Indium-catalyzed Direct Conversion of Dibenzyl Ethers to Dibenzyl Sulfides Using Elemental Sulfur and a Hydrosilane and Its Application to the Preparation of Benzyl Selenides

Described herein is a catalytic system composed of an indium(III) compound, a hydrosilane and an easily handled form of elemental sulfur (S8) that effectively and directly catalyzes the sulfidation of dibenzyl ethers to produce dibenzyl sulfides. This system could also be applied to selenium in a straightforward conversion to dibenzyl selenides.