A synthesis of biaryl ketones via the C–S bond cleavage of thiol ester by a Cu/Ag salt

Abstract We report the synthesis of biaryl ketones via an unprecedented copper/silver catalyzed acylative cross-coupling of thiol esters with either an arylboronic acid or a potassium aryltrifluoroborate. This new method proceeds without a requisite Pd-catalyst and Cu(I)TC mediator, and is efficient, versatile, operationally simple, and accommodating functionally diverse thiol esters, arylboronic acids, and potassium aryltrifluoroborates.