Syntheses of Mercaptobenzoic Acids and Mercaptopyridines Using Elemental Sulfur in the Presence of NaOH-KOH

Abstract

Mercaptobenzoic acids and mercaptopyridines were synthesized by using mercaptylation of halogeno compounds with elemental sulfur in the presence of molten salts (NaOH-KOH). This procedure was also applied to the preparation of selenoaryl compounds by using elemental selenium. Based on the behavior of the molten salts and sulfur, Na₂S and K₂S were considered to be the active species for the mercaptylation.