Recent Developments in Synthesis of Sulfur Heterocycles via Copper-Catalyzed C-S Bond Formation Reaction

In a large number of biologically active natural products and pharmaceuticals, the important substructures are sulfur containing heterocycles. Thioethers and other sulphur-rich molecules commonly occur in chemical biology, organic synthesis and material chemistry. In case of the formation of carbon-heteroatom bonds, copper catalyzed cross-coupling reactions provide a powerful tool as its cost is low and here the readily accessible and stable ligands are used. It has been recognized that copper catalyzed C–S coupling reactions are an efficacious strategy for synthesizing sulfur-rich heterocyclic compounds and so the strategy has gained worldwide attention. This review sums up recent research developments in the field of synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles using copper-catalyst.