A versatile Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction to various unsymmetrical disulfanes has been presented, from phthalimide-carried disulfur transfer reagents and commercially available boronic acids under mild and practical conditions. The method features the unprecedented use of phthalimide-carried disulfurating reagents (Harpp reagent) in cross-coupling chemistry and is highlighted by the broad substrate scopes, even applicable for the transfer of aryldisulfur moieties (ArSS-). Notably, the robustness of this methodology is shown by the late-stage modification of bioactive scaffolds of coumarin, estrone, and captopril.
MULLIN V. A.; ZOLOTOV A. N., ZH. OBSHCH. XIMII, 56,(1986) N 4, 898-904