Facile Introduction of SH Group on Aromatic Substrates via Electrophilic Substitution Reactions

Herein, we describe a mild and efficient two-step procedure to introduce a thiol group on aromatic substrates. First, reaction with an activated sulfoxide leads to an arylsulfonium salt intermediate. Then, two successive beta-elimination-based dealkylation reactions afford the desired arylthiols in good to excellent yields.