Progress in S-X bond formation by halogen mediated electrochemical reactions

Sulfur-containing compounds are one of the most common and important heteroatom skeletons and are widely found in natural products, pharmaceuticals and bioactive compounds. Moreover, the development of the synthetic routes to organosulfur compounds have attracted a considerable attention due to their widely application in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical industry and materials science. As one of most powerful, green and eco-friendly research areas, organic electrosynthesis could avoid the use of harmful stoichiometric external oxidants or reductants, compared with conventional organic synthesis. Importantly, halide salts are widely used as supporting electrolyte and redox catalysts in indirect electrosynthesis to avoid the limitations imposed by high overpotentials in direct electrosynthesis. In recent years, great progress has been made in the halogen-mediated electrosynthesis of organosulfur compounds. In this minireview, the scope, limitations and mechanisms of halogen-mediated electrochemical transformations of sulfur-containing compounds are presented and discussed.