Convenient one-pot access to 2H-3-nitrothiochromenes from 2-bromobenzaldehydes, sodium sulfide and β-nitrostyrenes.

An efficient synthesis of 2H-3-nitrothiochromenes via a cascade reaction was established. Starting from commercially available o-bromobenzaldehydes and β-nitrostyrenes with sodium sulfide nonahydrate as an inexpensive sulfur source, various substituted thiochromenes were synthesized with high functional group tolerance without any added transition metal catalyst or additive.