Aerobic copper-catalyzed decarboxylative thiolation

Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative thiolation using molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant was developed. A variety of aromatic carboxylic acids including 2-nitrobenzoic acids, pentafluorobenzoic acid and several heteroaromatic carboxylic acids undergo efficient thiolation to furnish the aryl sulfides in moderate to excellent yields. A copper-catalyzed decarboxylative thiolation reaction to furnish aryl sulfides using molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant is described.