Efficient preparation of unsymmetrical disulfides by nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling strategy

Abstract

The preparation of disulfides mainly relies on oxidative couplings of two sulfur-containing compounds, a strategy which has side reactions and other shortcomings. In this work, the authors present a reductive nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of unactivated alkyl bromides with symmetrical tetrasulfides to form unsymmetrical disulfides, proceeding via trisulfide intermediates.