In this article, we have studied the generation of a bissulfinylmethyl radical from the corresponding TEMPO and phenylselenyl bissulfoxide precursors. No univocal formation of the bissulfinylmethyl radical has been observed. Instead, complex mixtures have been obtained in thermal or photochemical conditions, showing prominent C–S homolytic bond cleavage.
A previous report has established the intermediacy of a sulfide-sulfonate ester in the one-pot conversion of an aryl mercaptan and a sulfonate ester into the corresponding trithioorthoformate. This report describes evidence for the sequential intermediacy of a bissulfide-sulfonate ester and a dithiosulfène in the conversion of the sulfide-sulfonate ester into the trithioorthoformate. A new sulfonate ester is shown to give the highest yield of trithioorthoformate. Key words: single electron transfer, sulfonate esters, sulfenes.