Selective synthesis of organic sulfides or disulfides by solvent exchange from aryl halides and KSCN catalyzed by NiCl2·6H2O

•Selective synthesis of sulfides and disulfides from aryl halides.•Ni-catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfides and disulfides.

A method for selective synthesis of symmetric sulfides or disulfides from the reaction of aryl halides with KSCN by solvent exchange is introduced. Aryl halides were selectively converted to the symmetric disulfides or sulfides in high yields when they are treated with KSCN in the presence of NiCl2·6H2O and DMAP at 140 °C in DMF or poly ethylene glycol (PEG-200) respectively.

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