The reaction of various phenols with 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane proceeded smoothly in the presence of BF3·Et2O to afford 1,3-dithiolan-2-ylated phenols, which were readily hydrolyzed to the corresponding aldehydes. This process was also extended to N,N-dimethylaniline and indole.
Treatment of trimethylstyrylsilanes with 1-ethoxy-1-(phenylthio)ethane or 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane in the presence of Lewis acid gives the corresponding (E)-allyl sulfide or (E)-2-styryl-1,3-dithiolane, respectively. In both cases, a carbon-oxygen bond of thioacetal derivatives is cleaved selectively.
In the reaction of 2-ethoxy-1,3-oxathiolane with carbonylcompounds in the presence of ZnCl2 or HgCl2, it has been found that only the breaking of the endocyclic bond (C–O or C–S bond) occurs, while the breaking of the exocyclic C–O bond to give the 1,3-oxathiolan-2-ium ion is unfavorable. This behavior is different from that of 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane, in which the breaking of the endocyclic C–S bond
The reaction of 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane with carbonyl compounds such as aldehydes and ketones was investigated. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of the HgCl2-catalyst to afford 2-substituted and 2,2-disubstituted 1,3-dithiolanes. The reaction also offers an interesting alternative to the previously reported methods of synthesizing 1,3-dithiolanes which involve the acid-catalyzed reaction of carbonyl compounds with 1,2-ethanedithiol.
Several 2-alkylthio- and 2-arylthio-1,3-dithiolanes were synthesized by the reaction of 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane with aliphatic and aromatic thiols in the presence of ZnCl2. The lithiation of 2-alkylthio-1,3-dithiolanes with butyllithium in tetrahydrofuran followed by the addition of alkyl halides gave unsymmetrical dialkyl trithiocarbonates in moderately good yields.