Metal-and Oxidant-Free Electrochemical Synthesis of Aryl Sulfides

Abstract

A metal- and oxidant-free electrochemical synthesis of aryl sulfides was developed through a C–H sulfidation reaction of arenes and disulfides. Compared with traditional organic synthesis methods, this direct electrochemical approach efficiently generates aryl sulfides under catalyst- and oxidant-free conditions with the superiorities of wide substrate compatibility, mild reaction condition and waster free. At room temperature, various aryl thiols could be transformed smoothly in an undivided cell. Based on cyclic voltammetry (CV) and control experiments, the possible reaction mechanism was also proposed. The gram-scale synthesis emphasizes the practicability of this electrochemical strategy.