Making Flavone Thioethers Using Halides and Powdered Sulfur or Na2S2O3

The method for constructing C–S bonds is very important in organic synthesis. Here a new sulfenylation method to generate flavone thioether derivatives was developed by employing aromatic or alkyl halides, S powder and Na2S2O3 as reactants. Good yields of regioselective Calkyl–S and Caryl–S-substituted flavones were generated under relatively environmentally friendly and simple conditions. This method might be potentially applicable to large scale production, and it enriches current sulfenylation methods.