Cobalt mediated regioselective ring opening of oxiranes with benzenethiol: A mechanistic study

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96012-0

: Oxiranes are regioselectively cleaved by benzenethiol in presence of cobalt(II) chloride or Co₂(CO)₈ to the corresponding β-hydroxy sulfides in good yields. A mechanistic study of this reaction reveals that an electron transfer process is involved in these transformations and the reaction is proceeding via the formation of a carbon-cobalt bond.