Single-step thioetherification by indium-catalyzed reductive coupling of carboxylic acids with thiols.

Direct thioetherification from a variety of aromatic carboxylic acids and thiols using a reducing system combined with InBr(3) and 1,1,3,3-teramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) in a one-pot procedure is demonstrated. It was also found that a system combined with InI(3) and TMDS underwent thioetherification of aliphatic carboxylic acids with thiols.