Cobalt(II)-Mediated Desulfurization of Thiophenes, Sulfides, and Thiols

Desulfurization of organosulfur compounds is a highly important reaction because of its relevance to the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process of fossil fuels. A reaction system involving Co(BF4)2·6H2O and the dinucleating ligands HBPMP or HPhBIMP has been developed that could desulfurize a large number of thiophenes, sulfides, and thiols to generate the complexes [Co2(BPMP)(μ2-SH)(MeCN)](BF4)2 (1a), [Co2(BPMP)(SH)2](BF4) (1b), and [Co2(PhBIMP)(μ2-SH)(X)](BF4)2 [X = DMF (2a), MeCN (2c)], while the substrates are mostly converted to the corresponding alcohols/phenols. This convenient desulfurization process has been demonstrated for 25 substrates in 6 different solvents at room temperature.