Nickel-Catalyzed Selective Decarbonylation of α-Amino Acid Thioester: Aminomethylation of Mercaptans.

The nickel-catalyzed aminomethylation of mercaptans has been disclosed that offers efficient and expedient access to synthesize α-aminosulfides. The intramolecular fragment coupling shows excellent chemoselectivity. This transformation shows good functional-group compatibility, tolerates a wide range of electron-withdrawing, electron-neutral, and electron-donating substituents in this process, and can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for the synthesis of α-aminosulfides at a gram scale. Thus, the newly developed methodology enables a facile route for C-S bond formation in a straightforward fashion.