One-pot odourless synthesis of thioesters via in situ generation of thiobenzoic acids using benzoic anhydrides and thiourea

Abstract

An efficient and odourless procedure for a one-pot synthesis of thioesters by the reaction of benzoic anhydrides, thiourea and various organic halides (primary, allylic, and benzylic) or structurally diverse, electron-deficient alkenes (ketones, esters, and nitriles) in the presence of Et3N has been developed. In this method, thiobenzoic acids were in situ generated from the reaction of thiourea with benzoic anhydrides, which were subjected to conjugate addition with electron-deficient alkenes or a nucleophilic displacement reaction with alkyl halides.