Calcium carbide as a convenient acetylene source in the synthesis of unsaturated sulfides, promising functionalized monomers

Calcium carbide was studied as a useful solid-state reagent to incorporate acetylene unit into synthetic procedures. Atom-economic thiol-yne click reaction was successfully performed with single and double additions. Heterocyclic thiols and aliphatic dithiols reacted with acetylene generated in situ from calcium carbide to afford corresponding vinyl sulfides and bis(thiovinyl)ethers in good to high yields.