Phenyliodine(III) Bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA)-Mediated Synthesis of Aryl Sulfides in Water.

An environmentally benign method for the synthesis of aryl sulfides in water under mild conditions has been realized, in which arenes are coupled with equal stoichiometry of allyl sulfides. This arylthiolation is enabled by the presence of the Lipshutz surfactant, TPGS-750-M, using water as the recyclable reaction medium.