Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of aryl/alkyl halides with thiols: A straightforward synthesis of thioester derivatives

Abstract

Thioesters are a class of highly useful compounds in synthetic chemistry, and many thioester compounds show biological and pharmacological activities. Organic halides and thiols are widely accessible chemical feedstocks and are widely used in industry as building blocks. The synthesis of thioesters from these basic chemicals is important for chemical synthesis nowadays. Over the years, many efforts have been made to access thioester derivatives through thiocarbonylation of organic halides with thiols using different carbon monoxide sources including CO, CO2, COgen, [CpFe(CO)2]2, Cr(CO)6, etc. Herein, we summarize the recent advances of these carbonylative coupling reactions.