Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of nitroarenes with alkyl- or arylthio groups in dimethyl sulfoxide by means of cesium carbonate

Treatment of nitroarenes having electron-withdrawing groups at the ortho or para position with alkanethiol in the presence of cesium carbonate in dimethyl sulfoxide at 25 °C leads to nucleophilic displacement of the nitro group with the alkylthio group. Cesium carbonate is superior to other bases such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and triethylamine. The cesium-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction provides a mild yet powerful and user-friendly protocol for the synthesis of aryl sulfides.