Copper-catalyzed C-S direct cross-coupling of thiols with 5-arylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid ethyl ester.

A selective copper (Cu)-catalyzed C-S bond direct cross-coupling of thiols with 5-arylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid ethyl ester was developed. Notably, various biologically active 5-phenyl-3-phenylsulfanylpenta-2,4-dienoic acid ethyl ester derivatives were efficiently synthesized under moderate conditions. Finally, a plausible Cu(i)/Cu(iii) reaction mechanism was proposed.