Recent Advances in the Synthesis of C–S Bonds via Metal-Catalyzed or -Mediated Functionalization of C–H Bonds

Abstract Sulfur-containing organic molecules play a prominent role in chemistry and biology. The presence of sulfur atoms is essential for the structure and thus the activity of many proteins. Sulfur-based compounds are used as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, or for materials with interesting physical or electronic properties. The synthesis of the C–S bond via the selective activation of C–H bonds is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to classical procedures based on prefunctionalized starting materials. Within the last decade, significant progress has been made in this field. This review covers recent advances in the field of C–S bond-forming reaction via metal-catalyzed functionalization of C–H bonds and the utilization of these methods in the construction of sulfur-containing heterocycles. Problems often associated with organosulfur compounds as well as limitations of the current methods and future areas of research in this field will be discussed.