Ligand-Enabled Gold-Catalyzed C(sp2)–S Cross-Coupling Reactions

Herein we report C­(sp2)–S cross-coupling reactions of aryl iodides and arylsulfonyl hydrazides under ligand-enabled, Au­(I)/Au­(III) redox catalysis. This strategy operates under mild reaction conditions, requires no prefunctionalized aryl coupling partner, and works across several aryl iodides. The utility of this protocol is highlighted through the synthesis of various medicinally relevant biaryl sulfones. The reaction mechanism is supported with control experiments, mass spectrometry, and NMR studies.