Aromatization of cyclic hydrocarbons via thioether elimination reaction

Herein, the diversity-oriented aromatization of cyclic hydrocarbons via potassium ethyl xanthogenate (EtOCS2K)/NH4I-mediated methylthiyl radical addition and thioether elimination was investigated under transition-metal-free conditions. The methylthiyl radical species were generated in situ via the NH4I-mediated decomposition of DMSO following which EtOCS2K promoted the breaking of carbon-sulfur bonds of thioether.