A metal-free,one-pot route to substituted benzo[b]thiophenes and their hetero-fused analogs via iodine mediated intramolecular arylthiolation of in situ generated β-(het)aryl-β-cyanoenethiolates

A metal-free one-pot route to substituted 3-cyanobenzo[b]thiophenes has been developed via iodine mediated intramolecular arylthiolation of 2-(het)aryl-2-cyanoenethiolates generated in situ by base mediated condensation of arylacetonitriles and (het)aryl dithioesters. The methodology has been further extended to the synthesis of 2-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes as well as hetero-fused thiophenes such as thieno[2,3-b]thiophenes, thieno[2,3-b]indoles and thieno[3,2-c]pyrazoles. An electrophilic cyclization mechanism has been proposed based on experimental observations.