Trisulfur Radical Anion as the Key Intermediate for the Synthesis of Thiophene via the Interaction between Elemental Sulfur and NaO<i>t</i>Bu

Abstract

A facile base-promoted sulfur-centered radical generation mode and a single-step protocol for the synthesis of thiophene derivatives using 1,3-diynes via the interaction between elemental sulfur and NaO<i>t</i>Bu has been reported. EPR experiments revealed that the trisulfur radical anion acts as a key intermediate of this process. A plausible mechanism has been proposed