Oxidative β-Csp(3) -H Functionalization of tBuOH: A Selective Radical/Radical Cross-Coupling Access to β-Hydroxy Thioethers.

An oxidative β-Csp(3) -H functionalization of tert-butanol (tBuOH) for the construction of C-S bonds through an iodine-catalyzed Csp(3) -H/S-H coupling was successfully achieved. Different kinds of mercaptans were shown to be good coupling partners, affording the desired products in good yields. This protocol not only offers a novel method for the synthesis of β-hydroxy thioethers, but also provides an effective strategy for selective radical/radical cross-coupling.