Sulfuration of dienes with elemental sulfur

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)01082-4

Elemental sulfur reacts with conjugated 1,3-dienes to deliver cyclic di- and polysulfides; the reaction proceeds without any activation other than heat. Treatment of cyclic polysulfide products with triphenylphosphine cleanly converts them to the corresponding disulfide in good overall yield. Additionally, some mechanistic aspects have been examined. The presence of disulfur as an active species in the sulfuration of dienes with S₈ is discussed.