Skeletal reorganization of mercaptoacetaldehyde dialkyl acetal in acid: formation of disulphide, 1,2-bis(mercapto)ethylene and 1,1,2-tris(mercapto)ethane derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/jccs.199900083

The reaction of mercaptoacetaldehyde dialkyl acetals 1a-c in the presence of sulfuric acid, polyphosphoric acid and zinc chloride is described. Other than the disulfide reported previously, new compounds 1,2-bis-(mercapto)ethylene, 1,2,3-tris-(mercapto)ethane and 1,2-bis-(mercapto)methane have been isolated for the first time.