Metal-free base-promoted sulfenylation for the synthesis of α-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated ketones.

A new sulfenylation reaction has been established, stereoselectively affording 37 examples of α -arylthio- α,β -unsaturated ketones with generally good yields via a metal-free three-component reaction of α -thiocyanate ketones with diaryliodonium salts and 1,2-dicarbonyls. The reaction enabled multiple bond-forming events including C(sp 2 )–S formation to provide a high-efficient and practical method toward α -arylthio- α,β -unsaturated ketones. The reasonable mechanism for forming α -arylthio- α,β -unsaturated ketones was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]