Synthesis of 2-Aryl and 3-Aryl Benzo[b]furan Thioethers Using Aryl Sulfonyl Hydrazides as Sulfenylation Reagents

An efficient, metal-free protocol used to synthesize aryl benzo[b]furan thioethers based on the I2-catalyzed cross-coupling of benzo[b]furans as well as the electrophilic cyclization of 2-alkynylphenol derivatives with aryl sulfonyl hydrazides was developed. Various 2-aryl and 3-aryl benzo[b]furan thioethers were obtained in moderate to good yields.