Sulfides Synthesis: Nanocatalysts in C-S Cross-Coupling Reactions

The C-S cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with thiols or sulfur sources is a key and valuable synthetic transformation in chemistry and medicine as well as in biology, and the development of novel efficient synthetic protocols for the synthesis of the corresponding products (sulfides) is highly desired. Among a wide range of catalysts used in C-S coupling reactions, metallic nanocatalysts have attracted notable interest. Herein, we summarize recent breakthroughs in the arena of metal nanocatalysts employed in C-S cross-coupling reactions with the goal of stimulating further progress in this field. This review is divided into three main sections according to the nature of the metal nanocatalysts discussed. The first section focuses on naked or purely metallic catalysts in nano-size, such as Cu, Pd, Ni, and In. The second section focuses on the role of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and mesoporous silica nanomaterials, such as MCM-41 and SBA-15, as catalyst supports. Finally, the third section focuses on the catalytic activities of copper ferrite nanoparticles in C-S cross-coupling reactions. Additionally, the recovery and reusability of the nanocatalyst, which are very important from commercial and economical points of view, are comprehensively discussed in this review.