Studies toward Cyclic Trisulfides. Trisulfide Polymers and Sulfur Extrusion1

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00323a019

Attempts were directed toward the synthesis of a variety of cyclic trisulfides, particularly by the reaction of N,N'-dibenzimidazolyl sulfide with dithiols.Only one monomeric cyclic trisulfide was prepared by this method; other cases yielded either mixtures of oligomers characterized as low molecular weight (<5000) polymers or as products which spontaneously extruded sulfur to give the cyclic disulfides.We conlude that only where osmometric molecular weights or X-ray structures have been determined are monomeric cyclic trisulfides unambiguously defined.