One-Pot, Three-Component Synthesis of 5-Sulfenyl-2-iminothiazolines by Cross-Dehydrogenative C-S Coupling Using I2/DMSO in Open Air.

A one-pot, three-component, transition-metal-free regioselective sulfenylation of 2-iminothiazoline through the cross-dehydrogenative coupling strategy via sp2 C-H functionalization has been developed employing iodine as a catalyst and dimethyl sulfoxide as an oxidant. Utility of this sulfenylation technique has been well depicted through participation of various aryl and heterocyclic thiols. Significant features of this C-H functionalization strategy include metal-free open air reaction conditions, which offer a mild and efficient method for sulfenylation to achieve diversely substituted 5-sulfenyl-2-iminothiazoline derivatives.