Highly efficient synthesis of thioesters in water

Abstract

Thioesters were efficiently prepared via the direct reaction of tertiary thioamides and alkyl halides in water, and in the presence of catalytic amounts of NaI, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO). Hence, thioamides smoothly undergo an S-alkylation with alkyl halides in aqueous media following by hydrolysis to afford the corresponding thioesters in very good to excellent yields. © 2009 The Royal Society of Chemistry.