Visible-light induced decarboxylative coupling of phenoxyacetic acid with disulfides: synthesis of α-arylthioanisole derivatives.

Photoredox-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction is an efficient strategy for the construction of organic molecules. Herein, we developed a method to synthesize α-arylthioanisoles by constructing C-S bonds in the presence of a Ru-photoredox catalyst. Thus, a series of α-arylthioanisole compounds were efficiently obtained through decarboxylative cross-coupling under mild conditions. This protocol features high efficiency, broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance.