Cu-Mediated C–H Thioetherification of Arenes at Room Temperature

Cu-mediated C–H thioetherification of arenes with ethylene sulfide has been developed using a readily removable directing group. The reaction proceeded at room temperature, and a variety of sensitive functional groups including chloro, bromo, and vinyl were well tolerated. The thiolated products could be converted to the seven-membered benzoxathiepinones derivatives by a sequence of hydrolysis–lactonization reactions.