Visible-light-driven multicomponent reactions to access S-alkyl phosphorothioates using elemental sulfur as the sulfur source

A metal-free and unprecedented strategy has been established for the construction of S-alkyl phosphorothioates through visible-light-driven four-component reactions of alpha-diazoesters, cyclic ethers, elemental sulfur and H-phosphonates. This strategy simply utilizes DBU as additive and elemental sulfur as the cheap and odorless sulfur source, providing an efficient and attractive approach to access various S-alkyl phosphorothioates under mild conditions. Notably, three-component coupling products of alpha-diazoesters, elemental sulfur, and H-phosphonates could also be conveniently obtained in moderate to good yields by simply changing the reaction solvent.

Automated summary

A metal-free strategy using visible-light-driven four-component reactions has been developed to construct S-alkyl phosphorothioates. This method utilizes DBU as an additive and elemental sulfur as a cheap and odorless sulfur source, providing an efficient approach to access various S-alkyl phosphorothioates under mild conditions. Additionally, three-component coupling products can be obtained conveniently by changing the reaction solvent.