Product selectivity in the electroreduction of thioesters

The electroreduction of differently substituted aromatic and aliphatic thioesters (RCOSR′) led to regioselective reactions depending on the nature of the substituents. Thus, the cleavage between the carbonyl group and the SR′ group afforded α-diketones and the cleavage between the RCOS group and the alkyl R′ group afforded thiocarboxylic acids selectively.