Nickel(ii)/TPMPP catalyzed reductive coupling of oxalates and tetrasulfides: synthesis of unsymmetric disulfides

Abstract

A Ni(II)/TPMPP-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reaction of benzyl oxalates and tetrasulfides to synthesize unsymmetric disulfides is reported. The benzyl oxalate works as the carbon radical precursor in this reaction. This catalytic strategy has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, wide substrate range, and easy operation and provides a new approach for the preparation of unsymmetric disulfides with good functional group tolerance. Also, this method successfully achieves the synthesis of disulfides at the gram-scale, making it highly valuable.