A Novel Approach to the Practical Synthesis of Sulfides: An InBr3–Et3SiH Catalytic System Promoted the Direct Reductive Sulfidation of Acetals with Disulfides

We have demonstrated a facile and direct synthesis of sulfide derivatives using acetals and ketals, derived from aromatic/conjugated aldehydes and aromatic ketones, with disulfides and the InBr3–Et3SiH reducing system. We also succeeded in developing an unprecedented one‐pot preparation of an aliphatic sulfide from a disulfide and an aliphatic acetal. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)