Carbon Tetrabromide-Mediated Carbon−Sulfur Bond Formation via a Sulfenyl Bromide Intermediate

In the presence of carbon tetrabromide, a variety of dithiocarbamates, xanthates, dithioesters, and thioethers were prepared in one pot by reacting the corresponding dithioic acids or thiols with active methylene compounds/indole derivatives under mild conditions. The formation of a sulfenyl bromide intermediate is proposed as the key step, which initiates the C−S bond formation.