An improved transition-metal-free synthesis of aryl alkynyl sulfides via substitution of a halide at an sp-centre.

A simple high-yielding preparation of aryl alkynyl sulfides is presented. The reaction of a chloroacetylene with a thiolate salt in the presence of an amine mediator (dimethylamine or N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine) yields the alkynyl sulfides in excellent yields. The alkynyl chloride is easily prepared from the parent alkyne.