Indium-Catalyzed Direct Conversion of Lactones into Thiolactones and Selenolactones in the Presence of Elemental Sulfur and Selenium

Abstract

The direct conversion of lactones into thiolactones with elemental sulfur (S8) catalyzed by InCl3/PhSiH3 in a one-pot reaction is described. This catalytic system was successfully applied to the novel preparation of selenolactones from lactones and selenium.