Synthesis of Vinyl Sulfides by Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative C−S Cross-Coupling

A novel method for the synthesis of vinyl sulfides by the decarboxylative cross-coupling of arylpropiolic acids with thiols using copper(I) salts as catalysts has been developed. In the presence of CuI and Cs₂CO₃, a variety of thiols reacted with arylpropiolic acids to afford the corresponding vinyl sulfides in good to excellent yields with high stereoselectivity for Z-isomers.