An efficient synthetic route to 2-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)acetic acid. Trisnorlipoic acid and amide derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)01319-1

A simple, efficient synthesis of 2-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)acetic acid from Meldrum's acid, acrolein and thioacetic acid is described. The isopropyldene 2,4-bis(acetylthio)butane-1,1-dicarboxyl formed in the three-component, single container process, can be methanolized to the corresponding dimethyl ester and then hydrolyzed, oxidized to the disulfide and decarboxylated to 2-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)acetic acid. The acid can be converted by conventional reagents into a variety of amide derivatives.