Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Sulfides with CuO Nanoparticles

Significance

CuO nanoparticles catalyzed the one-pot, two-step synthesis of unsymmetrical sulfides 5. Thus, aryl halides 1 reacted with ethyl potassium xanthogenate 2 and the CuO catalyst to give aryl xanthogenate esters 3. Halides 4 and KOH were then added to afford the sulfides 5 in up to 98% yields from 1 (eq.1, 25 examples). For the one-pot, two-step synthesis of 5a, the catalyst was recovered by centrifugation and reused five times (5^th reuse: 89% yield).