Mild and green thioacylation with dithiocarboxylates via photoredox catalysis

A photocatalysis process-enabled thioacylation of amines has been developed with eco-friendly feedstock potassium dithiocarboxylates as green thioacyl sources and water as the reaction solvent. The key to the success of this transformation is the light-induced generation of active dithioacyl disulfides as thioacyl donors. This green methodology has been successfully employed for the late-stage thioacylation of various amino compounds including drugs, hormones, amino acids and peptides under mild conditions.