A very simple method for the preparation of symmetrical disulfides

A serendipitiously discovered, extremely simple, fast and previously unreported method for the preparation of symmetrical aliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic disulfides is reported. Addition of sulfuryl chloride to an alkyl- or arylthiol in a 1:2 ratio under solvent free conditions or in dichloromethane solution produces the corresponding disulfides in nearly quantitative yields with the concomitant elimination of gaseous SO2 and 2 equiv of HCl. Thus, optimally the reaction needs no work-up at all leaving the disulfide as the sole product in excellent yield. In dichloromethane solution, the reaction is conveniently carried out in a rotary evaporator by mixing the solvent, thiol and SO2Cl2 in a round-bottomed flask followed by evaporation of the volatiles.