An efficient, mild and intermolecular ullmann-type synthesis of thioethers catalyzed by a diol-copper(I) complex

A wide range of diaryl sulfides and aryl alkyl sulfides are synthesized under mild reaction conditions from the corresponding aryl iodides and aromatic/aliphatic thiols through Ullmann-type intermolecular coupling reactions in the presence of catalytic amount of easily available novel trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dimethanol-copper(I) bromide complex at 82 C. The catalytic system is not only capable of coupling electron-withdrawing and electron-releasing substituent-containing substrates, but also tolerates a broad range of functional groups including heteroatom-containing aryl iodides and thiols.