Cover Feature: Visible Light‐Triggered Radical Annulation of ortho ‐Thioaryl Ynones: A General Approach to Prepare 3‐Sulfenylthiochromones (ChemCatChem 7/2023)

The Cover Feature shows the office environment of an organic synthesis laboratory, centered around a “synthetic tools desk,” which is a place where ideas are discussed on a daily basis. In their Research Article, R. H. Bartz et al. demonstrated one of the few cases in which an intramolecular EDA-complex (the molecule on the desk) is used as a species that can absorb blue light (440 nm) and trigger an annulative radical process. In this sophisticated synthetic transformation, thiols are used as reactants, giving rise to the “most wanted” 3-sulfenylthiochromones. This strategy circumvents the classical use of photocatalytic species in light-mediated reactions, as well as the use of oxidants and heating, readily yielding the desired products in a short reaction time. Taken together, the main features of the developed approach meet some principles of green chemistry and promote sustainable chemistry. More information can be found in the Research Article by R. H. Bartz et al..