Thioamide synthesis via copper-catalyzed C–H activation of 1,2,3-thiadiazoles enabled by slow release and capture of thioketenes

Thioketenes, as highly reactive intermediates, are extremely prone to dimerization, which severely limits their further synthetic applications. Herein we developed a Cu-catalyzed thioacylation of amines via a C–H activation/coordinated stabilization protocol to ensure the slow-release of thioketenes, which are captured by various amines to afford thioamides. This method is characterized by its simplicity, efficiency and broad substrate scope in both 1,2,3-thiadiazoles and amines. Its versatility is further illustrated by the late-stage thioamidation of N -containing drugs, peptides, catalysts, and ligands. Mechanism studies demonstrate that the active Cu( i ) species is formed via the reduction of Cu( ii ) during the induction period, and the rate-determining step is the C–H activation of 1,2,3-thiadiazole.