B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 -catalyzed regio- and stereoselective thiosulfonylation of terminal alkynes with thiosulfonates.

Herein, a metal-free main-group catalysis system for thiosulfonylation of terminal alkynes with thiosulfonates has been established by using commercially available B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 as a catalyst. The protocol provides a highly regio- and stereoselective route for the synthesis of diverse ( E )-(β)-arylthiolvinyl sulfones under mild conditions with 100% atom-economy and exceptional functional group compatibility.