Sodium Iodide (NaI)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling for C−S Bond Formation via Oxidative Dehydrogenation: Cheap, Direct Access to Unsymmetrical Aryl Sulfides

Abstract A simple and practical NaI‐catalyzed direct C−H sulfenylation of arenes has been developed under air. In this reaction, aryl sulfides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with high regioselectivity from readily available aromatic compounds and aryl/alkyl thiols, even on gram scale. To demonstrate the practicability of this reaction, two bioactive compound skeletons were synthesized in good yields. This method can also be used to late‐stage modification of curcumin.