Reactions of Thianthrene Cation Radical with Acyclic and Cyclic Alcohols

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00092a011

Thianthrene cation radical perchlorate (Th(.+)*ClO4(-)) reacted readily with cycloalkanols (C5, C7, C8, and C12), alkan-2-ols (C3, C5, C6, and C8), 3-hexanol, neopentyl alcohol, a number of benzyl alcohols, dl- and (S)-1-phenylethanol, cyclopentyl- and cyclohexylmethanols, the exo- and endo-borneols, and norborneols.Reactions were carried out with an excess of the alcohol in acetonitrile solution containing 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine.Products were alkenes, ethers, and N-substituted acetamides, depending on the structure of the alcohol.Thianthrene (Th) and its 5-oxide (ThO) were formed in equal amounts.The sum of amounts of products from the alcohol was equal to the amount of ThO.All reactions are interpretable on the basis of the ultimate formation and further reactions of a 5-alkoxythianthreniumyl ion (ROTh(+)).The predominant formation of nortricyclene from the norborneols is striking and is discussed.Swern-Moffatt-type oxidations of the alcohols were not observed.