Aerobic Oxidation of Thiols to Disulfides Catalyzed by Diaryl Tellurides under Photosensitized Conditions

Abstract

Aerobic oxidation of thiols is efficiently catalyzed by diaryl tellurides such as bis(4-methoxyphenyl) telluride under photosensitized conditions to give the corresponding disulfides in good to excellent yields. In this catalytic system, the tellurone oligomer, produced by the reaction of a telluride with singlet oxygen, is assumed to be the active species and is capable of oxidizing 4 equiv of a thiol.