t-Butyl bromide-activated dimethyl sulphoxide reacts with phenols to give either methylthiomethylation or bromination products. Several equilibria are shown to be simultaneously present in the system; however, by appropriate choice of several parameters (basicity, temperature, and reactant ratio) it is possible to drive the reaction selectively in one direction. A general discussion on the mechanism
A convenient synthesis of a variety of 2, 4-cyclohexadien-1-ones 3-7 is described. Reaction of various phenols 2 having appropriate substituents with an excess of S, S-dimethylsuccinmidosulfonium chloride (Corey-Kim reagent, 1)in the presence of triethylamine proceeded with regioselective methylthiomethylation to give methylthiomethyl, bis(methylthiomethyl), or tris(methylthiomethyl)-2, 4-cyclohexadien-1-ones 3-7 in satisfactory yields.