The kinetic resolution of racemic α-bromophenylacetamides 1 was achieved in the presence of benzenethiolate and Cinchona alkaloid salts as phase-transfer catalysts or benzenethiol and quinine, yielding (S)-enantioenriched α-sulfanylated products. The observed stereoselection was rationalized on the basis of the best fitting of 1 and the resolving agent in the ternary complexes.
