PhSZn-halides: new  green thiolates

A new class of bench-stable and odorless zinc thiolates can be prepared by insertion of the elemental zinc into a sulfur-halogen bond. The reulting reagents were used for the regio- and stereoselective thiolysis of epoxides in "on-water" conditions as well as in the solvent free synthesis of thioesters starting from the corresponding acyl halides. A comparison with the reactivity of the selenium analogues will be discussed.This communnication is dedicated to Prof. Lorenzo Testaferri in the occasion of his retirement