Indium-catalyzed direct preparation of dibenzyl sulfides from benzyl alcohols and elemental sulfur with a hydrosilane and its application to the preparation of dibenzyl selenide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tetlet.2015.12.109

We describe how a reducing system composed of InI₃ and a hydrosilane efficiently and directly introduce elemental sulfur into the structure of dibenzyl sulfides via a nucleophilic substitution of benzyl alcohols. Also, we describe the application of this reducing system in the direct preparation of a dibenzyl selenide derivative with selenium.