Carbon-sulfur bond formation from 2-halochalcogenophenes via copper catalyzed thiol cross-coupling

We present herein our results of the thiol coupling reaction of 2-halochalcogenophenes with Cu(I) and establish the first route to prepare (2-sulfides)-chalcogenophenes in good yields. The reaction performed with both electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents on thiol in the absence of any supplementary additives. In addition, the reaction proceeded cleanly under mild reaction conditions and was sensitive to nature of catalyst, base, and solvent. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.