Dechalcogenization of Aryl Dichalcogenides to Synthesize Aryl Chalcogenides via Copper Catalysis

An application for dechalcogenization of aryl dichalcogenides via copper catalysis to synthesize aryl chalcogenides is disclosed. This approach is highlighted by the practical conditions, broad substrate scope, and good functional group tolerance with several sensitive groups such as aldehyde, ketone, ester, amide, cyanide, alkene, nitro, and methylsulfonyl. Furthermore, the robustness of this methodology is depicted by the late-stage modification of estrone and synthesis of vortioxetine. Remarkably, synthesis of more challenging organic materials with large ring tension under milder conditions and synthesis of some halogen contained diaryl sulfides which could not be synthesized using metal-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl halogen are successfully accomplished with this protocol.