Synthesis of β‐Hydroxysulfides from Thiophenols and Disulfides with tert‐Butyl Hydroperoxide as the Oxidant and Reactant

In this Communication, we developed a new procedure for the synthesis of β‐hydroxysulfides from thiophenols or diaryl disulfides with TBHP as the oxidant. In the presence of zinc iodide or potassium iodide, with TBHP as the oxidant and pre‐reactant, thiophenols and diaryl disulfides reacted with the methyl group of tBuOH smoothly and selectivity to give the corresponding 2‐methyl‐1‐(arylthio)propan‐2‐ols as the terminal products in moderate to good yields.