[reaction: see text] A new synthesis of thioethers is described. The reaction of boronic acids with aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl N-thioimides in the presence of catalytic quantities of a Cu(I) carboxylate affords good to excellent yields of thioethers. This reaction takes place in the absence of a base under mild conditions (THF, 45-50 degrees C, 2.5-12 h) and represents an interesting complement to known methods for thioether synthesis.

[reaction: see text] The reaction of a variety of indoles with N-thioalkyl- and N-thioarylphthalimides to produce 3-thioindoles is reported. Catalytic quantities of halide-containing salts are crucial to the success of this reaction. This highly efficient reaction provides sulfenylated indoles from bench-stable, readily available starting materials in good to excellent yields.

We report the first case of a pharmaceutical cocrystal formed between an inorganic acid and an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), which enabled us to develop a stable crystalline and bioavailable solid dosage form for pharmaceutical development where otherwise only unstable amorphous free form or salts could have been used.

[figure: see text] A new methodology for the synthesis of substituted alkynes is described. In the presence of copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) or copper (I) 3-methylsalicylate (CuMeSal), the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of thioalkyne derivatives with boronic acids affords functionalized alkynes in yields ranging from 39 to 91%. This coupling occurs efficiently under mild, nonbasic conditions with a wide variety of thioalkynes and boronic acids, providing a reaction complementary to the Sonogashira protocol.

Thiol esters and boronic acids do not participate in cross-coupling in the presence of palladium catalysts. However, efficient palladium-catalyzed thiol ester-boronic acid cross-coupling is observed when simple alkylating agents are present. Alkylative conversion of the very stable palladium-thiolate bond to a labile palladium-thioether bond is presumed to be crucial to the catalysis. Of the systems studied, 4-halo-n-butyl thiol esters were most effective in this cross-coupling.