Desulfurization of Organic Trisulfides by Tris(dialkylamino)phosphines. Mechanistic Aspects

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo01313a026

Tris(dialkylamino)phosphines effect a rapid desulfurization of trisulfides to disulfides under mild conditions.The reaction mechanism involves a bimolecular process, proceeding by the rate-determining formation of a phosphonium salt intermediate.The central sulfur atom of a diaryl trisulfide is removed in the process, while a dialkyl trisulfide loses a terminal sulfur atom to the aminophosphine.