Copper-catalyzed direct preparation of diaryl sulfides from aryl iodides using potassium thiocyanate as a sulfur transfer reagent

A method for direct preparation of diaryl sulfides from aryl iodides using potassium thiocyanate as a sulfur-transfer agent is reported. A catalyst system comprising of a simple copper salt, tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase-transfer agent and water as the solvent is used. Microwave heating at 200 °C for 60 min allows for the conversion of a range of aryl iodides to the corresponding diaryl sulfides.