An interesting synthetic application of S-alkyl (aryl)bis(alkylsulfanyl)thioacetates: General procedure for the preparation of (±)-α-arylpropionic acids

Reported here is a new procedure for the synthesis of α-arylpropionic acids 1 in the racemic form, starting from derivatives of aromatic carboxylic acids 2 (i.e., esters), via 1-aryl-2,2,2-tris(alkylsulfanyl)ethanones 4-6, S-alkyl (aryl)bis(alkylsulfanyl)thioacetates 7-9, S-alkyl α-aryl-α-(alkylsulfanyl)thiopropionates 10-12 and S-alkyl α-arylthiopropionates 13-15. Each stage takes place easily and yields are always high.