Benzothiophene

Most syntheses of benzothiophene create substituted benzothiophenes as a precursor to further reactions. An example is the reaction of an alkyne-substituted 2-bromobenzene with either sodium sulfide or potassium sulfide to form benzothiophene with an alkyl substitution at position 2. Thiourea can be used as a reagent in place of sodium sulfide or potassium sulfide. In the presence of a gold catalyst, a more complex 2,3-disubstituted benzothiophene can be synthesised. ==References==