This review summarizes the advances in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling via carbon–sulfur bond activation and cleavage since late 2012 as an update of the critical review published in early 2013 (Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 599–621).

Visible-light-induced direct C-H arylation of S,S-functionalized internal alkenes, that is, α-oxo ketene dithioacetals and analogues, has been efficiently realized with aryldiazonium salts (ArNBF) as coupling partners and Ru(bpy)Cl·6HO as photosensitizer at ambient temperature. The strategy to activate the internal olefinic C-H bond by both the alkylthio and electron-withdrawing functional groups was investigated. The synthetic protocol was successfully applied to the synthesis of all-carbon tetrasubstituted alkenes including tamoxifen.