New data on the reaction of hexafluorothioacetone with styrenes

Hexafluorothioacetone, generated in situ from its cyclic dimer (1) in the presence of CsF catalyst was shown to react with styrene or 4-alkyl-styrenes (alkyl = c-hexyl, Me, t-Bu) forming the corresponding 2:1 Diels-Alder cycloadducts as major products. All cycloadducts were isolated, and the structure of two of them was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While 2-vinylnaphthalene, 4-CF₃- and 4-Cl-styrenes in the presence of CsF catalyst react with 1 producing the corresponding 1:1 Diels-Alder cycloadducts, 4-alkoxy styrenes were found to produce preferentially the corresponding thietanes. The reaction of styrenes with 1 was also found to be sensitive to the source of fluoride ion and the solvent.