In the homologous series of p-chlorophenyl ω-chloroalkyl sulphides (I), the first and second members reacted abnormally with amines to yield 1, ω-bis(p-chlorophenylmercapto)alkanes (II). The fourth member of the series reacted normally to produce 4-aminobutyl p-chlorophenyl sulphide (III). The formation of II is explained on the basis of an alkyl–sulphur bond cleavage. The members of the p-chlorobenzyl series (VI) in general reacted with amines to form the expected aminoalkyl sulphides (VII). However, the p-chlorobenzyl chloroalkyl sulphides (VI) were thermally labile and decomposed to p-chlorobenzyl chloride and a sulphur component. A cyclic sulphur component originated from VI whose chloroalkyl carbon chain was 4, 5, or 6. The thermal degradation of VI is explained through a sulphonium salt cleavage
A method has been developed for the synthesis of a new heterocyclic system III. When 2-β-chloroethoxybenzyl chloride (XI) was heated with thiourea in alcohol solution, S-(2-β-chloroethoxybenzyl)isothiuronium chloride (XII) was formed which on cleavage with aqueous alkali in high dilution yielded 2,3-dihydrobenzo(f)-1,4-oxathiepin (III). Derivatives of III with substituents such as methyl, t-butyl, chlorine, and nitro in the 7 and 9 positions were prepared in high yields from the corresponding substituted 2-β-chloroethoxybenzyl chlorides. The presence of substituents in the position ortho to the chloroethoxy group of XII had no retarding effect on the cyclization to XIV.