Gold-Catalyzed Anti-Markovnikov Selective Hydrothiolation of Unactivated Alkenes.

Despite the widespread use of transition-metal catalysts in organic synthesis, transition-metal-catalyzed reactions of organosulfur compounds, which are known as catalyst poisons, have been difficult. In particular, the transition-metal-catalyzed addition of organosulfur compounds to unactivated alkenes remains a challenge. A novel gold-catalyzed hydrothiolation of unactivated alkenes is presented, which proceeds effectively to give the anti-Markovnikov-selective adducts in good yields and in a regioselective manner.