Fragmentation of Aryl Alkyl Sulfides. A Simple, One-Pot Synthesis of Polymercaptobenzenes from Polychlorobenzenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00328a016

A simple procedure is described which allows one to prepare polymercaptobenzenes starting from chlorobenzenes.The reactions of all the possible chlorobenzenes with Me2CHSNa in HMPA give the corresponding (isopropylthio)benzenes which can be cleaved by adding sodium to the reaction mixtures to give the arenethiolates in good yields.In some cases the polymercaptobenzenes were isolated after treatment with acid; in other cases methyl iodide was added to the reaction mixture and poly(methylthio)benzenes were obtained.It is suggested that the (isopropylthio)benzenes react with sodium to give the corresponding radical anions which fragment at the sulfur-alkyl bond to give the arenethiolates.