Synthesis of phenyldithioglyoxalic acid and its esters. A route to a-ketodithioacid derivatives

A novel route has been developed for the direct synthesis of the hitherto unknowna-ketodithioacid. Benzaldehyde has been treated with carbon disulphide in the presence of potassium cyanide, thereby making the intermediate carbanion Ph-C(OH)CN to add on to carbon disulphide eventually leading to thea-ketodithioacid. The methyl and ω-carboxypropyl esters of this acid have also been prepared.