Palladium-Catalyzed Thioetherification of Quinolone Derivatives via Decarboxylative C-S Cross-Couplings.

A highly efficient and practical procedure for palladium-catalyzed direct thioetherification of quinolone derivatives with diaryl disulfides through decarboxylative C-S coupling has been established. The reaction could proceed smoothly under air in the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and Ag2 CO3 in DMSO. This protocol provides an appealing alternative to existing approaches to construct aryl sulfides of quinolone derivatives, which may be used as key intermediates in the synthesis of drug candidates.