Synthesis of β-Hydroxysulfides from Alkenes under Supramolecular Catalysis in the Presence of β-Cyclodextrin in Water

An environmentally benign and highly efficient procedure
has been developed for the direct one-pot synthesis of
β-hydroxysulfides in good yields under neutral conditions
from alkenes and thiophenols in the presence of aerial oxygen
using β-cyclodextrin in water. This protocol tolerates a wide
variety of functional groups or substrates and does not require
the use of either acid or base catalysts. β-Cyclodextrin can
be recovered and reused for a number of runs without any
loss of activity.