Thioxanthone Synthesis from Thioureas through Double Aryne Insertion into a Carbon-Sulfur Double Bond.

Thioxanthone synthesis from -silylaryl triflates and thioureas is disclosed. Double aryne insertion into the C═S double bond of thioureas and subsequent hydrolysis realized the facile preparation of thioxanthones. A simple reaction procedure and good accessibility of -silylaryl triflates allowed us to synthesize a wide range of highly functionalized thioxanthones.