Direct sequential C-H iodination/organoyl-thiolation for the benzenoid A-ring modification of quinonoid deactivated systems: a new protocol for potent trypanocidal quinones.

We report a sequential C-H iodination/organoyl-thiolation of naphthoquinones and their relevant trypanocidal activity. Under a combination of AgSR with a copper source, sulfur-substituted benzenoid quinones were prepared in high yields (generally >90%). This provides an efficient and general method for preparing A-ring modified naphthoquinoidal systems, recognized as a challenge in quinone chemistry.