Thiolysis of 1,2-epoxides by thiophenol catalyzed under solvent-free conditions

Thiolysis of alkyl- and aryl-1,2-epoxides was investigated under solvent-free conditions in the presence of Lewis and Bronsted acid and base catalysts (InCl3, p-TsOH, n-Bu3P, K2CO3). Five mol% of catalyst was sufficient and the best results were obtained by using lnCl(3) and K2CO3 P-Hydroxy sulfide was isolated in excellent yields. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.