Bismuth(III) Halides and Sulfate as Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Sulfenylation of Carbonyl and Related Compounds1

Abstract

BiX₃ (X=Cl, Br and I) and Bi₂(SO₄)₃ act as strong catalyst for the sulfenylation of carbonyl and related compounds. Using these catalytic systems, the following types of sulfenylation have been carried out efficiently; i) S,S-acetalization of aldehydes (turnover number up to 2300) and ketones (up to 190), ii) transacetalization of acetal to O,S- and S,S-acetals (up to 1000), and iii) conjugate addition of thiophenol to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound (up to 48).