Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-1,2-Diarylthio-1-alkene via the Reaction of Diaryl Disulfides with Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Cesium Hydroxide

In the presence of a catalytic amount of cesium hydroxide under a nitrogen atmosphere, terminal alkynes reacted with diaryl disulfides at room temperature in dimethylformamide to give almost exclusively (Z)-1,2-diarylthio-1-alkene in good yields, but under an air atmosphere, the reaction gave a mixture of alkynyl sulfide and (Z)-1,2-diarylthio-1-alkene.