Introduction of alkyl substituents to aromatic compounds

A process comprising:

• reacting a compound having Formula II:
• with a compound having Formula III:
• and with R3SH
• in the presence of an acidic catalyst and a suitable solvent,
• thereby forming a compound having Formula I:
• wherein:
• R1 is (C)n or aryl, wherein n is between 1 to 20;
• R2 represents 0 to 5 substituents, wherein, in each occurrence, each substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, halide, amine, amide, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, carboxy, thiocarboxy, epoxide, sulfonate, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sulfonamide, nitro, nitrile, isonitrile, thiirane, aziridine, nitroso, hydrazine, sulfate, azide, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, urea, thiourea, carbamyl and thiocarbamyl, or the substituents are joined together so as to form a fused ring system containing up to three 6-member carbocyclic, each being substituted or non-substituted;
• R3 is selected from alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, carbonyl, carboxy, substituted or non-substituted;
• and
• R4, R5, and R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of:
• hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, thiohydroxy, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, halide, amine, amide, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, carboxy, thiocarboxy, epoxide, sulfonate, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sulfonamide, nitro, nitrile, isonitrile, thiirane, aziridine, nitroso, hydrazine, sulfate, azide, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, urea, thiourea, carbamyl and thiocarbamyl,
• the process further comprising a subsequent step of reacting said compound having Formula I with a reducing agent, thereby forming the compound having Formula IV: