Sulfuration of organoborates, an underexploited method

The combination of sulfurating agents with organoboranes is an underexploit ed synthetic transformation. The reactivity of berate complexes was investi gated with several electrophilic sulfur species. Simple and practical metho ds for making carbon sulfur bonds were created under almost neutral conditi ons. These enjoy a heavy metal-free environment and use not so toxic boron compounds. This is in contrast to the manipulation of poisonous H2S or the use of sulfur with Grignard reagents, under highly basic and moisture-sensi tive conditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.