Air-stable binuclear Titanium(IV) salophen perfluorobutanesulfonate with zinc power catalytic system and its application to C–S and C–Se bond formation

Abstract

An air-stable μ-oxo-bridged binuclear Lewis acid of titanium(IV) salophen perfluorobutanesulfonate [{Ti(salophen)H2O}2O][OSO2C4F9]2 (1) was successfully synthesized by the reaction of TiIV(salophen)Cl2 with AgOSO2C4F9 and characterized by techniques such as IR, NMR and HRMS. This complex was stable open to air over a year, and exhibited good thermal stability and high solubility in polar organic solvents. The complex also had relatively strong acidity with a strength of 0.8 < Ho ≤ 3.3, and showed high catalytic efficiency towards various C–S and C–Se bond formations in the presence of zinc power. This catalytic system affords a mild and efficient approach to synthesis of thio- and selenoesters, α-arylthio- and seleno-carbonyl compounds, and thio- and selenoethers.