Reaction between Chalcones, 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds, and Elemental Sulfur: A One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis of Substituted Thiophenes

A simple and atom-economic synthesis of highly substituted thiophenes is demonstrated. Heating a solution of a chalcone and a ­linear/cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compound with elemental sulfur in CH 3 CN in the presence of NEt 3 at 80 °C afforded the corresponding substituted thiophenes in good to excellent yields.