Electrochemical Synthesis of Sulfinate Esters: Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Esterification of Thiols with Alcohols in an Undivided Cell.

In this study, nickel-catalyzed electrochemical oxidative esterification of thiols with alcohols for the synthesis of sulfinate esters has been reported. The electrochemical oxidative esterification proceeded through a nickel-catalyzed oxidation of thiols using an undivided cell of graphite/nickel electrodes, where the nickel oxidation was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The method was conveniently and directly used for the one-pot synthesis of sulfinate esters of thiols.