N-Phenyltriazolinedione as an efficient, selective, and reusable reagent for the oxidation of thiols to disulfides

N-Phenyltriazolinedione is an efficient and chemoselective reagent for the oxidation of thiols to their corresponding symmetrical disulfides. The method is applicable to aromatic, aliphatic, and bi-functional thiols. The one-pot reaction takes a few minutes (in most cases studied) for completion and after a simple work-up affords the corresponding symmetrical disulfides in very good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the reaction could be performed with the same results in the absence of solvent for liquid thiols.