A Novel Catalyst System, Trimethylsilyl Chloride and Indium(III) Chloride, as an Efficient Catalyst in the Sulfide Synthesis

Abstract
O-Trimethylsilyl monothioacetals, which are generally difficult to activate under acidic conditions due to their rapid disproportionation, smoothly react with triethylsilane in the presence of a novel catalyst system, trimethylsilyl chloride and indium(III) chloride, to afford the corresponding sulfides in good to high yields. One pot synthesis of sulfides from aldehydes is also attained in high yields by successive treatments of aldehydes with trimethylsilyl alkyl (aryl) sulfides and triethylsilane in the presence of the above catalyst system under extremely mild conditions.