Trithiocarbonate anion as a sulfur source for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted thiophenes and 2-substituted benzo[ b ]thiophenes.

The trithiocarbonate anion (CS32-) was generated in situ from CS2 and KOH in dimethyl sulfoxide by a simple method and used as a novel synthetic equivalent of the S2- synthon for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted thiophenes from 1,3-butadiynes. Additionally, this system was employed for the metal-free synthesis of 2-substituted benzo[b]thiophenes from 2-haloalkynyl (hetero)arenes. These compounds were obtained from a cheap and readily available sulfur source in moderate to good yields, with good functional group tolerance.