An aqueous and recyclable copper(i)-catalyzed route to α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols

A highly efficient one-step copper(I)-catalyzed method for the synthesis of α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols in aqueous media is described. A variety of α-sulfenylated carbonyl compounds can be synthesized in good to excellent yields. The catalyst has been successfully recycled up to 4 times without any loss of activity in an aqueous medium.