Thiol-free route to diaryl sulfides by Cu catalyzed coupling of sodium thiosulfate with aryl halides

A method for the synthesis of diaryl sulfides from aryl halides in polyethylene glycol was reported. Inodorous Na2S2O3 center dot 5H(2)O, which is readily available as a stable salt, is an effective source of sulfur in the presence of CuI as catalyst. (C) 2016, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.