A New Syntethic Route to Vinyl Sulfides Utilizing the Reaction of (Phenylthio)carbenes with Nitrile Anions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00356a017

Reactions of nitrile anion (LiCR2R3CN) and (phenylthio)carbenes generated from 1-chloroalkyl phenyl sulfides (R1CH(Cl)SPh) 2a-e by the action of n-BuLi have been shown to be a useful synthetic route to vinyl sulfides (PhSC(R1)=CR2R3) 3a-k (34-91percent).The nucleophilic attack of the nitrile anion on the carbenic species gave the presumed intermediate β-(phenylthio)-β-lithionitrile, which eliminated LiCN to give the expected vinyl sulfides.The application of the present reaction to the synthesis of cyclic vinyl sulfides was successful: the decomposition of the dianion ofω,ω-bis(phenylthio)alkanenitriles (8b, 8c, 11, and 14) affording the corresponding 1-(phenylthio)cycloalkenes (9, 10, 12, and 15) in 12-87percent yields.