Phthalimide-Carried Disulfur Transfer To Synthesize Unsymmetrical Disulfanes via Copper Catalysis

A versatile Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction to various
unsymmetrical
disulfanes has been presented, from phthalimide-carried disulfur transfer
reagents and commercially available boronic acids under mild and practical
conditions. The method features the unprecedented use of phthalimide-carried
disulfurating reagents (Harpp reagent) in cross-coupling chemistry
and is highlighted by the broad substrate scopes, even applicable
for the transfer of aryl-disulfur moieties (ArSS−). Notably,
the robustness of this methodology is shown by the late-stage modification
of bioactive scaffolds of coumarin, estrone, and captopril.