Nickel-mediated inter- and intramolecular C-S coupling of thiols and thioacetates with aryl iodides at room temperature.

A Ni(0)-catalyzed intermolecular cross-coupling of various functionalized thiols and aryl iodides has been developed and successfully extended to less explored intramolecular versions, where thioacetates could also be utilized as the strategic surrogate. Air-stable precatalysts, very mild conditions, and an easy protocol allow rapid access to medicinally useful aryl thioethers, as demonstrated in the facile synthesis of (±)-chuangxinmycin as a key step.