This dissertation describes the development of a metal-free method for the synthesis of thioesters from acyl fluorides and sulfonyl hydrazides under basic conditions. Acyl fluorides were selected as acyl donors due to their balanced reactivity and hig...
This dissertation describes the development of a metal-free method for the synthesis of thioesters from acyl fluorides and sulfonyl hydrazides under basic conditions. Acyl fluorides were selected as acyl donors due to their balanced reactivity and high moisture stability, while sulfonyl hydrazides served as practical, odorless sulfur sources that overcome the limitations associated with free thiols. Systematic optimization of bases, solvents, and stoichiometric parameters enabled the establishment of mild and operationally simple conditions that afforded a broad range of thioesters in moderate to high yields. The methodology showed good functional group tolerance, accommodating various electronically and sterically diverse benzoyl fluorides as well as different sulfonyl hydrazides. This study highlights the synthetic utility of acyl fluorides in metal-free acyl–sulfur bond formation and provides an efficient strategy for accessing structurally diverse thioesters useful in organic and medicinal chemistry.