An unorthodox pathway to the 1,2-dithiin system

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/jlac.199719970808

Tetracyanoethylene combines with two molecules of thiobenzophenone in refluxing benzene to give the tetrasubstituted 1,2-dithiin 8 (21-29%) besides the corresponding thiophene derivative 9 (40-52%). The X-ray analysis of the ruby-red 8 reveals a half-chair conformation with a torsion angle of 58.9° at the disulfide bond. The thermal desulfurization 8 → 9 (benzonitrile, 100°C) proceeds with t_1/2 = 26.7 h, whereas the sulfur loss induced by triethyl phosphite is a billion times faster. The mechanisms of the formation of 8 and its sulfur extrusion are discussed in the light of recent literature. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, 1997.