Diaryl sulfides synthesis: copper catalysts in C-S bond formation

Diaryl sulfides play an important role in the synthesis of natural products, pharmaceutically and biologically molecules. The metal catalysts are powerful tools for C-S bonds formation. Despite the utility of palladium-catalyzed carbon-sulfur bond formation, copper complexes are fascinating catalysts for this transformation because copper is less toxic and inexpensive than palladium. In recent times, a large number of protocols using various copper catalysts to perform cross-coupling reactions leading to the synthesis of diaryl sulfides have been described. In this review, we summarized recent developments in the area of synthesis of diaryl sulfides based on using copper catalysts. Both the considerable advantages and drawbacks of these protocols are discussed. [GRAPHICS] .