Palladium catalyzed synthesis of aryl thiols: sodium thiosulfate as a cheap and nontoxic mercapto surrogate

A Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction of ArBr/ArCl/ArOTf with sodium thiosulfate takes place in presence of Cs2CO3 at 80 °C. The reaction mixture is directly treated with Zn/HCl to afford aryl thiols in good to excellent yields.