Gold-catalyzed Intermolecular Oxidation of Phenylacetylene and Allylic Sulfides: an Efficient and Practical Synthesis of α-Phenylthio Ketone

An efficient and practical synthesis of α-phenylthio ketone through gold-catalyzed intermolecular oxidation of phenylacetylene and substituted aryl(benzyl) allylic sulfides was developed. The reaction scope is fairly good with substituted aryl(benzyl) allylic sulfides, tolerating various functional groups, and the reaction affords the yields of 63%—85%.