A heterogeneous copper(I)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling of terminal alkynes with thiols leading to alkynyl sulfides

A simple and practical method for a selective synthesis of alkynyl sulfides has been developed through the direct oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling of terminal alkynes with thiols in DMSO using a recyclable MCM-41-supported bidentate nitrogen copper(I) complex [MCM-41-2N-CuCl] as catalyst under an atmosphere of oxygen.