One-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical aryl sulfides by Pd-catalyzed couplings of aryl halides and thioacetates.

Aryl sulfides were obtained from the coupling reaction of S-aryl (or S-alkyl) thioacetates and aryl bromides in the presence of palladium catalyst. This reaction method enables the one-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryl sulfides by employing potassium thioacetate with aryl iodides and aryl bromides.