Rhodium-catalyzed interconversion between acid fluorides and thioesters controlled using heteroatom acceptors

A rhodium complex catalyzed the equilibrium acyl transfer reaction between acid fluorides and thioesters. In the presence of fluoride or thiolate acceptors, the reaction could be shifted to either product. RhH(PPh3)4-dppe catalyzed the reaction of acid fluorides and diorgano disulfides in the presence of triphenylphosphine giving thioesters, which was accompanied by triphenylphosphine difluoride. The same complex catalyzed the reaction of aryl thioesters and hexafluorobenzene giving acid fluorides, which was accompanied by 1,4-di(arylthio)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzenes.