Synthesis of β-Hydroxysulfides from Thiophenols and Disulfides with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide as the Oxidant and Reactant.

In this Communication, we developed a new procedure for the synthesis of β-hydroxysulfides from thiophenols or diaryl disulfides with TBHP as the oxidant. In the presence of zinc iodide or potassium iodide, with TBHP as the oxidant and pre-reactant, thiophenols and diaryl disulfides reacted with the methyl group of tBuOH smoothly and selectivity to give the corresponding 2-methyl-1-(arylthio)propan-2-ols as the terminal products in moderate to good yields.