Cu-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers by coupling of aryl halides using a thiol precursor.

An efficient Cu-catalyzed one-pot approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers using potassium ethyl xanthogenate as a thiol surrogate is developed. This new protocol avoids usage of intricate thiols and makes use of its easily available xanthate as a precursor, and thiol will be generated in situ to prepare the diaryl thioethers through a Cu-catalyzed double arylation. This strategy was further successfully utilized for the synthesis of symmetrical diaryl thioethers, aryl alkyl thioethers, and benzothiazoles.