Direct Synthesis of Allyl Sulfides from Allyl Alcohols and Thiols

Abstract
In the presence of boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex, various allyl alcohols [(-)-myrtenol, geraniol, cinnamyl alcohol, linalool, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and bicyclic diols] were reacted with thiophenol, 1-butanethiol, trimethyl(phenylthio)silane or hexamethylsilane in dichloromethane at room temperature to give the corresponding allyl sulfides in good to excellent yields. The mild conditions for this transformation allowed chemoselectivity.