Thioethers from sulfur

Sulfides, or thioethers, are sulfur analogues of ethers, and like ethers they can be either symmetrical (R2S) or unsymmetrical (RSR1, where R and R are different). Sulfides can be prepared from alkyl halides by a Williamson-type synthesis with sodium hydrogen sulfide, sodium thiolate or sodium sulfide from alkyl or aryl halides via the Grignard reagent (11) from alkenes by radical-catalysed addition of thiols or by reduction of sulfoxides (Scheme 9).2b... 

Another interesting approach was taken by Berkessel and co-workers, who synthesized Ni(II) complexes with salen-derivative ligands having a pendant thioether group [101, 108]. They found that intramolecular electron transfer from sulfur to nickel can easily occur. This, combined with other evidence, as described above, led to a proposed catalytic cycle for the final step of methano-genesis, as shown in Fig. 9. The same mechanism was simultaneously proposed by Jaun [83]. 

Figure 4 compares the relative a- and 7c-donor ability of three distinct sulfur donors thiolate, sulfinate, and thioether 17, 23, 24, 26-28). Based on simple charge considerations, both the thiolate and sulfinate donors are anionic, while the thioether is neutral. In terms of a-donor ability, the thiolato sulfur should be stronger than the sulfinate since the oxygen atoms of the latter withdraw significant electron density away from sulfur. The neutral thioether is the poorest a-donor. In terms of 7c-donor ability, only the thiolate sulfur possess the... 

Salts of hydrogen cyanide have also been found to be capable of nucleophilic cleavage of the disulfide bond in keratin fibers [72]. In addition, nearly quantitative conversion of cystinyl residues to lanthionyl residues can be achieved in this reaction [73]. The most plausible mechanism is given in Equations G and H [65]. This mechanism consists of two nucleophilic displacement reactions the first by cyanide on sulfur and the second by mercaptide ion on carbon. The following mechanism is consistent with the observed formation of thioether from the reaction of N-(mercaptomethyl)polyhexamethyleneadipamide disulfide (XV) with cyanide, but not with alkali [65]. 

Reductions of sulfur compds. with thiourea dioxide Phase transfer catalysis Thioethers from sulfonylsulfilimines... 

There has been a review of the use of transition-metal catalysts in the formation of C—S, C—Se, and C—Te bonds." Copper catalysis enables the formation of unsymmetrical diaryl thioethers from two differently substituted aryl iodides using ethylxanthogenate as the source of sulfur. Initial formation of an aryl xanthate, such as (17), is followed by hydrolysis to the arenethiolate, which couples with the second aryl iodide." Copper catalysis has also been used in the methylthiolation of aryl halides by DMSO. The method requires the presence of a source of fluoride ions, such as zinc fluoride." In the presence of a palladium catalyst, the reaction of aryl and heteroaryl bromides with AgSCp3 gives the corresponding trifluoromethylsulfldes." ... 

In contrast to oxygen, sulfur has been far less widely used as a nucleophile for addition to ruthenium vinylidenes. The formation of vinyl thioethers from the addition of thiols to aUcynes catalyzed by binuclear ruthenium complexes Cp Ru (p-SR)2RuCp (R=Et, i-Pr, f-Bu) and related complex Cp Ru(p -C6F5)(p-S) (p-SC6F5)RuCp has been described [112]. 

Due to the stability and availability of carboxylic acids, they remain some of the most attractive starting points for the synthesis of complex organic compounds. Using these compounds as substrates, the decarboxylative thiolation of carboxylic acids has been achieved using silver nitrate as a promoter (Scheme 5.15) [16]. Disulfides served as the sulfur source for this chemistry, and moderate to good yields of the thioethers from a host of aUcyl carboxylic acids. 

Since the exocyclic sulfur is more reactive in the ambident anion than in A-4-thiazoIine-2-thione. greater nucleophilic reactivity is to be expected. Thus a large variety of thioethers were prepared in good yields starting from alkylhalides (e.g.. Scheme 38 (54, 91, 111, 166-179). lactones (54, 160), aryl halides (54, 152. 180, 181), acyl chlorides (54. 149, 182-184). halothiazoles (54, 185-190), a-haloesters (149. 152. 177. 191-194), cyanuric chloride (151). fV.N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl chloride (151, 152. 195. 196), /3-chloroethyl ester of acrylic acid (197), (3-dimethylaminoethyl chloride (152). l,4-dichloro-2-butyne (152), 1,4-dichloro-2-butene (152), and 2-chloro-propionitrile (152). A general... 

Thioethers are neutral stable compounds that can be freed from acidic and basic impurities as described for disulfides. They can be recrystallised from organic solvents and distilled without decomposition. They have sulfurous odours. 

In contrast to the large number of chiral pyridine derivatives used as ligands of metal complexes in asymmetric catalysis, only a few examples of chiral sulfur-containing pyridine ligands have so far been reported, such as pyridine thioethers derived from ( + )-camphor depicted in Scheme 1.33, which were assessed in the test reaction providing enantioselectivities of up to 76% ee. The related 2,2 -bipyridine thioethers were also prepared but showed a lower stereodilferentiating capability in the test reaction. 

From the standpoint of modeling Type I copper proteins,4,5,59,60 a variety of imidazole-based ligands containing thioether sulfurs and imidazole groups have been synthesized.61,62 The structures and spectroscopic properties of their copper(II) complexes (51)-(53) and (55)-(60) were investigated.65,79-82 To characterize apical copper(II)-thioether bonding, the complex (51) was... 

Bi- and poly-thioethers with aliphatic backbones are produced by attack of RS on the appropriate haloalkane. This is the method of choice for RS(CH2)raSR (R = Me or Ph),26 MeC(CH2SR)3,27,28 MeS(CH2)raS(CH2)raSMe (n = 2 or 3) and MeS(CH2)raS(CH2) S(CH2) SMe.28,29 [Caution Some of these syntheses involve sulfur mustard derivatives as intermediates - these are very powerful vesicants and should be handled only with extreme care.] The other tridentates RS(CH2)3S(CH2)3SR (R = Et, Pr or Ph) may be obtained from nucleophilic attack by RS on the ditosylate TsO(CH2)3S(CH2)3OTs.30 Tetra-dentate thioethers involving o-phenylene interdonor linkages are also known.31 More recently the preparation and coordination chemistry of the silicon-apex derivative MeSi(CH2SMe)3 has been described.32... 

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