Multicomponent synthesis of di-aryl dithiocarbamates via electron donor-acceptor photoactivation with thianthrenium salts

Herein, a multicomponent, environmentally friendly protocol for generating di-aryl dithiocarbamates was developed effectively from readily available thianthrenium salts. The reaction can be conducted smoothly using both aromatic amines and alkyl amines without adding any photocatalysts, transition-metal catalysts, or ligands. A novel photoactivated electron donor-acceptor complex was proposed as the key intermediate. This protocol offers a new approach towards di-aryl dithiocarbamates, thus promising their potential applications in pharmaceutical chemistry and sulfur chemistry.