“…Lactonederived β-ketoesters also underwent the α-sulfenylation reaction well, and converted into the corresponding products with good yield (4 d). Similarly, acyclic β-ketoesters bearing electrondonating groups (À Me, À Bn) and electron-withdrawing groups (À Cl, À F) at α-position could conduct the direct CÀ H bond methylthiolation and produce the expected products in moderate to good yield (4 e, 4 f, 4 g, 4 h), of which electron-withdrawing groups (À Cl, À F) and more sterically congested group [f] CH 3 CN 8.0 AcCl 20 min 50 20 [g] CH 3 CN 8.0 AcCl 3.5 h 68 21 [h] CH 3 CN 8.0 AcCl 2.0 h 74 22 [i] CH 3 CN 8.0 AcCl 25 min 76 23 [j] CH 3 CN 8.0 AcCl 25 min 77 24 [k] CH 3 (À Bn) at α-potision resulted in lower yields and longer reaction time. The reactivity of β-ketoesters derived from heteroaromatic furan and thiophene was also investigated, and the desired products were observed in moderate yields (4 i, 4 j).…”