W(CO)6 Mediated C-S Bond Cleavage Reactions

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00246a024

W(CO)6-mediated reactions of thioethers in refluxing chlorobenzene yielded mainly the corresponding dimers.Optically active thioethers give the respective racemic products.Mercaptans, on the other hand, predominantly afford the corresponding reduced products.A deuterium labeling experiments suggest that the SH group is the hydrogen source in the latter reduction reactions.A free-radical mechanism is suggested.