Synthesis of Asymmetric Diaryl Sulfides by S<sub>N</sub>Ar Reaction of Substituted Nitrobenzene with Aryl Disulfides

A series of sulfides was successfully synthesized from nitroarenes by SNAr reaction via elimination of a nitro or phenylsulfonyl group. The SNAr reaction mechanism is found to depend on the position and type of substituents, and the effect of two-electron withdrawing groups was also examined. Keywords: Sulfide, SNAr reaction, nitro group, aryl disulfide.