Platinum-catalyzed highly selective thiocarbonylation of acetylenes with thiols and carbon monoxide

A novel carbonylative addition of thiols (RSH) to terminal acetylenes (R!-Cequivalent toCH) takes place successfully in the presence of platinum catalysts under the pressure of carbon monoxide, providing alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters (R'-C(C(O)SR)=CH2) in good yields regioselectively. This 'hydrothiocarbonylation' reaction of acetylenes may include the formation of the platinum sulfide complex as key species. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.