Multicomponent Selective Thioetherification of KSAc: Easy Access to Symmetrical/Unsymmetrical 4-Alkylthio-3-halo-2(5H)-furanones

An easy two-/three-component selective thioetherification of KSAc for the synthesis of a series of symmetrical/unsymmetrical 4-alkylthio-3-halo-2(5H)-furanones has been described. The reaction without any metal catalyst or additive is carried out in air atmosphere at room temperature for 5 h, only using potassium thioacetate as an odourless sulfur source and a base simultaneously. The broad substrate scope and high yield make it important for the studies on both constructing C-S bond based on non-aryl C-sp2-X bond and synthesizing new 2(5H)-furanone functional molecules.