New synthetic method for sulfides using thioborane derivatives

Abstract

An equimolar mixtrue of n-butyl thexylbromothioborinate and dibromoboranedimethyl sulfide is prepared and direct conversion of carboxylic esters into n-butyl sulfides is successfully achieved by using 3 equiv of this reagent in the presence of 1.1 equiv of zinc iodide. Also, this reagent can be applied to the conversion of aldehydes and lactones into the corresponding n-butyl sulfides and halogenatedalkyl n-butyl sulfides, respectively. Similarly, the corresponding phenyl sulfides are obtained from carboxylic acids, aldehydes, adn S,S``-diphenyl acetals by using an equimolar mixture of phenyl thexylbromothioborinate and dibromoborane-dimethyl sulfide in the presence of zinc iodide.