dehydrationsulfurtransfer

Dehydrationsulfurtransfer is a term used in chemistry and biochemistry to describe reactions in which a dehydration event is coupled to the transfer of a sulfur atom from a donor to an acceptor. The phrase does not have a single, universally accepted definition, and its use varies across literature. In general, it refers to processes that form a sulfur-containing product while eliminating a water molecule, with the sulfur atom being relocated in the process.

In chemical contexts, dehydrationsulfurtransfer can describe catalytic or stoichiometric steps where a sulfur donor (such as a thiol, thioester, or sulfonium-containing intermediate) transfers sulfur to an electrophilic center, with dehydration serving to activate the system or drive the reaction forward. The mechanism may proceed via intermediates such as thiocarbonyls, thioesters, or sulfonium species, depending on the substrate and reagents. In enzymatic or biocatalytic settings, dehydration and sulfur transfer may occur in tandem within a single active site or through a relay of cofactors, producing sulfur-containing biomolecules or modified substrates.

Common substrates include thiols, thioesters, thiosulfonates, and related sulfur-containing donors, while possible products encompass thioethers, thioesters, and other sulfur-functionalized compounds. Dehydrationsulfurtransfer reactions can offer atom economy advantages by integrating bond formation with water elimination, but they often require careful control of reaction conditions to maintain selectivity and avoid side reactions such as oxidation or over-dehydration.

The concept overlaps with related themes such as dehydrative coupling and sulfur-transferase chemistry and remains a niche area with varied definitions in different research communities.