A practical, one-step synthesis of primary thiols under mild and neutral conditions using bis(triorganotin) sulfides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)88815-2

Thiols are obtained from primary organic halides and bis(triaryl/alkyltin) sulfides in the presence of fluoride ion in CH₃CN/H₂O at 20°C. This simple one-step methodology involving fluorodestannylation is carried out under mild and neutral conditions, in sharp contrast to virtually all known methods. Some attempts at utilizing triorganotin and triorganogermanium mercaptans for the same purpose are reported.