Studies on 4‐Thiazolidinones: Scope of the Reactions of 3‐Aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones with Cyanide and Cyanate Ions

Treatment of 3‐aryl‐2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones 1 with CN^? and NCO^? effected the ring cleavage providing (cyanocarbonothioyl)amino]benzenes 4 and arylisothiocyanates 5 , respectively. Similar treatment of 5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethyl) derivatives 2 afforded 2,4‐bis(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene)cyclobutane‐1,3‐diones 6 along with each of the preceding products. Treatment of the respective (E,Z)‐5‐(2‐aryl‐2‐oxoethylidene) analogues 3b and 3c with CN^? gave 4b and 4c and 2‐(arylcarbonyl)‐2‐methoxy‐4‐oxopentanedinitriles 7b and 7c , in addition to 3,6‐bis2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1‐methoxy‐2‐oxoethylidene]‐1,4‐dithiane‐2,5‐dione 8c , which has been generated from 3c . Reactions of 3c or 3d with NCO^? provided 5c or 5d , together with 8c or 8d as pure isomers. In the formation of the MeO products 7 and 8 , the solvent (MeOH) has participated. Structures of these products are based on microanalytical and spectroscopic data. Rationalizations for the above transformations are given.