We
report a PhB(OH)2-promoted electrochemical sulfuration–formyloxylation
reaction of styrenes employing commercially available thiophenols/thiols
as thiolating agents. Specifically, metal catalysts and external chemical
oxidants are not needed in the reaction for the formation of β-formyloxy
sulfides, and these sulfides can be further converted to (E)-vinyl sulfones via the Selectfluor-mediated oxidation–olefination.
Notably, on the basis of this electrochemical oxidation strategy,
β-hydroxy sulfide, β-formyloxy sulfoxide, β-formyloxy
sulfone, and (E)-vinyl sulfoxide can also be easily
prepared.