Copper-Catalyzed Oxysulfenylation of Enolates with Sodium Sulfinates: A Strategy To Construct Sulfenylated Cyclic Ethers.

A new copper-catalyzed oxysulfenylation reaction of enolates with sodium sulfinates has been disclosed. A series of sulfenylated heterocycles including four- and seven-membered cyclic ether were obtained in mild to good yields. This reaction is proposed to go through a radical process, and the sulfur radical (RS(•)) may be a reactive species.