An (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 -promoted cross-coupling of thiols/diselenides and sulfoxides for the synthesis of unsymmetrical disulfides/selenosulfides.

An (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 -promoted cross-coupling of thiols/diselenides and sulfoxides to construct unsymmetrical disulfides/selenosulfides is disclosed. Control experiments demonstrate that (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 acts as an acid and an oxidant, while both ionic and radical routes are involved in the reaction. The KIE experiments reveal that C-H bond cleavage of sulfoxides was involved in the turnover-limiting step.