Density functional study of the in-line mechanism of methanolysis of cyclic phosphate and thiophosphate esters in solution: insight into thio effects in RNA transesterification

Density functional calculations of thio effects on the in-line mechanism of methanolysis of ethylene phosphate (a reverse reaction model for RNA phosphate transesterification) are presented. A total of 12 reaction mechanisms are examined using the B3LYP functional with large basis sets, and the effects of solvation were treated using the PCM, CPCM, and SM5 solvation models. Single thio substitutions at all of the distinct phosphoryl oxygen positions (2', 3', 5', pro-R) and a double thio substitution at the nonbridging (pro-R/pro-S) positions were considered. Profiles for each reaction were calculated in the dianionic and monoanionic/monoprotic states, corresponding to reaction models under alkaline and nonalkaline conditions, respectively. These models provide insight into the mechanisms of RNA transesterification thio effects and serve as a set of high-level quantum data that can be used in the design of new semiempirical quantum models for hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical simulations and linear-scaling electronic structure calculations.     

The atmospheric pressure Meerwein reaction

We have already shown that the in-vacuum gas-phase Meerwein reaction of (thio)acylium ions is general in nature and useful for class-selective screening of cyclic (thio)epoxides. Herein we report that this gas-phase reaction can also be performed efficiently at atmospheric pressure under both electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) conditions. This alternative expands the range of molecules that can be reacted by gas-phase Meerwein reaction. Phenyl epoxide, thiirane, 3-methoxy-2,2-dimethyloxirane, propylene oxide, 2,2'-bioxirane, trans-1,3-diphenyl-2,3-epoxypropan-1-one, epichloridrine and propylene oxide are shown to react efficiently in both ESI and APCI conditions. Tetramethylurea (TMU) and (thio)TMU were both used as dopants, being co-injected with either toluene, acetonitrile or methanol solutions of the (thio)epoxides, with similar results. In both ESI and APCI, (thio)TMU is protonated preferentially, and these labile species dissociate promptly to yield (CH3)2N-C+=O and (CH3)2NCS+, which are the least acidic and most reactive (thio)acylium ions so far tested in the gas-phase Meerwein reaction. Under the low-energy ESI conditions set to favor both the formation of the (thio)acylium ion and ion/molecule reactions, (CH3)2NCO(S)+ react competitively with (thio)TMU to form acylated (thio)TMU and with the (thio)epoxide to form the characteristic Meerwein products. Enhanced selectivity in structural characterization or for the screening of (thio)epoxides is achieved by performing on-line collision-induced dissociation of Meerwein products, particularly for the more structurally complex (thio)epoxides.     

Reaction of 2-Phenyl-4-(ethoxymethylene)-5(4H)-oxazolone with 3,4-Dithio-toluene in the Presence of Lewis Base

A convenient procedure for the synthesis of thiocoumarin by the condensation of 2-phenyl-4-(ethoxymethylene)-5-(4H)-oxazolone with 3,4-dithio-toluene in the presence of triethylamine is reported. Here, both thio groups are able to react with the carbonyl group to produce a mixture of isomeric products at ambient temperature. Only one of the isomers upon heating gives a new coumarin product.     

Preparation of new nitrogen-bridged heterocycles. 59. Syntheses and intramolecular interactions of 3-(acylmethylthio)- and 3-[(3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-propenyl)thio]thieno[3,4-b]indolizine derivatives

Various thieno[3,4-b]indolizine derivatives having an acylmethylthio or (3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-propenyl)thio group at the 3-position which could not be obtained by a conventional method were prepared by a new procedure using cyanoethyl group as a protecting group and their intramolecular arene-pi interactions were investigated. In the (1)H-NMR spectra of these thieno[3,4-b]indolizines, the low-field shifts (delta 0.10-0.33 ppm) for the 5-protons were observed in comparison with those of 3-(methylthio)thieno[3,4-b]indolizines as a standard. The UV spectra also exhibited a characteristic absorption band at 425-445 nm attributable to the arene-pi interaction but their intensities were generally lower than those of 3-(arylmethylthio)thieno[3,4-b]indolizines. In their X-ray analyses, the anti conformation for 3-(acylmethylthio)thieno[3,4-b]indolizines and the gauche one for the 3-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-propenyl)thio derivatives were exhibited.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry of cis-oxothio- and cis-bis(thio)tungsten(VI) complexes of hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate

The complexes TpWO2X react with sulfiding agents such as B2S3 or P4S10 to give the oxothio- and bis(thio)tungsten(VI) complexes TpWOSX (X = Cl(-)) and TpWS2X [X = Cl(-), S2PPh2(-); Tp = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate]. The reaction of TpWS2Cl with (i) PPh3 in pyridine and (ii) dimethyl sulfoxide affords TpWOSCl in good overall yield. The chloro complexes undergo metathesis with alkali metal salts to yield species of the type TpWOSX and TpWS2X [X = OPh(-), SPh(-), SePh(-), (-)-mentholate]. The diamagnetic complexes exhibit NMR spectra indicative of C(1) (TpWOSX) or C(s) (TpWS2X) symmetry and IR spectra consistent with terminal oxo and thio ligation (nu(W=O), 940-925 cm(-1); nu(W=S) or nu(WS2), 495-475 cm(-1)). Crystals of (R,S)-TpWOS[(-)-mentholate] are monoclinic, space group P2(1), with a = 11.983(2) A, b = 18.100(3) A, c = 13.859(3) A, beta = 91.60(2) degrees, V = 3004.6(8) A(3), and Z = 4. Crystals of TpWS2(OPh)-CH2Cl2 are orthorhombic, space group Pbca, with a = 16.961(4) A, b = 33.098(7) A, c = 9.555(2) A, V = 5364(2) A(3), and Z = 8. The mononuclear, distorted-octahedral tungsten centers are coordinated by a tridentate Tp ligand, an alkoxy or aryloxy ligand, and two terminal chalcogenide ligands. The average W=O and W=S distances are 1.726(7) and 2.125(2) A, respectively, and the O=W=S and S=W=S angles 102.9(3) and 102.9(1) degrees, respectively. The tungsten and sulfur X-ray absorption spectra of TpWOSCl and TpWS2Cl are consistent with the presence of terminal pi-bonded thio ligands in both complexes. The thio complexes generally undergo a reversible one-electron reduction at potentials significantly more positive than their oxo analogues. The chemical, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of the complexes are heavily influenced by the presence of W=S pi frontier orbitals.     

Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of novel 3-enynyl-substituted thioflavones/flavones using a copper-free palladium-catalyzed reaction

[reaction: see text] A variety of 3-enynyl substituted flavones/thioflavones were synthesized via a sequential one-pot procedure using copper-free palladium-catalyzed cross coupling in a simple synthetic operation. The cross coupling between 3-iodo(thio)flavone and a broad range of terminal alkynes was carried out in the presence of Pd(PPh3)2Cl2 and triethylamine to afford the corresponding 3-enynyl derivatives in a regio- and stereoselective fashion. The best results are obtained by employing 3 equiv of the terminal alkynes. The process worked well irrespective of the substituents present on the (thio)flavone ring as well as in the terminal alkynes except arylalkynes. The reaction is quite regioselective, placing the substituent of the terminal alkyne at the far end of the double bond attached with the (thio)flavone ring. The orientation of the (thio)flavonyl and acetylenic moieties across the double bond was found to be syn in the products isolated. A tandem C-C bond-forming reaction in the presence of palladium catalyst rationalized the formation of coupled product. The catalytic process apparently involves heteroarylpalladium formation, regioselective addition to the C-C triple bond of the terminal alkyne, and subsequent displacement of palladium by another mole of alkyne. The present methodology is useful for the introduction of an enynyl moiety at the C-3 position of flavones and thioflavone rings to afford novel compounds of potential biological interest. In the presence of CuI the process afforded 3-alkynyl (thio)flavones in good yields.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Quaternary Ammonium RAFT Agents

Synthesis of three new cationic thio compounds suitable to control free‐radical polymerization according to the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process (reversible addition fragmentation transfer) is presented. Among them, two bear a quaternary ammonium group in the R group [i.e., N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(4‐(((phenylcarbonothionyl)thio)methyl)benzyl)ethanammonium bromide and N‐(4‐((((dodecylthio) carbonothioyl)thio)methyl)benzyl)‐N,N‐dimethylethanammonium bromide, a dithioester and a trithiocarbonate, respectively]. The synthesis of a trithiocarbonate bearing an ammonium group in the Z group [i.e., 2‐((11‐((benzylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)undecanoyl)oxy)‐N,N,N‐trimethylammonium iodide] is also presented. Another three thio compounds, namely 1,4‐phenylenebis(methylene)dibenzenecarbodithioate, didodecyl‐1,4‐phenylenebis(methylene)bistrithiocarbonate, and 11‐(((benzylthio)carbonothioyl)thio)undecanoic acid, identified as other potentially interesting mono‐or difunctional RAFT agents, which were obtained as side products or intermediates, were isolated and fully characterized.     

Nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of allenes with N-(thio)phosphoryl imines and acidic methanolysis of adducts N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines: a facile synthesis of free amine 3-pyrrolines

In this report, the dipolarophile imines with easily removable activating group O,O-diethyl(thio)phosphoryl have been investigated in the nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of electron-deficient allenes. Under the catalysis of a tertiary phosphine, N-(thio)phosphorylimines readily undergo the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with ethyl 2,3-butadienoate or ethyl 2,3-pentadienoate, affording the corresponding N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines in moderate to high yields with good diastereoselectivity. Removal of the (thio)phosphoryl group from the adducts has been successfully achieved via the acidic methanolysis of the P-N bond, giving the free amine 3-pyrrolines in fair to good yields without severe aromatization. Thus, a facile synthesis of N-unsubstituted 3-pyrrolines is established from the phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenes with imines.     

Synthesis of novel pyrimidine derivatives with (pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio and phenylamino moieties and evaluation of their antifungal activity

A series of novel pyrimidine derivatives with (pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio and phenylamino moieties were synthesized from ethyl acetoacetate, thiourea, 3-pyridinylmethyl chloride hydrochloride, and substituted anilines by multi-step reactions. The structures of the target compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis. The in vitro antifungal activities against Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were evaluated. The result showed that N-phenyl-6-methyl-2- ((pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio) pyrimidin-4-amine (4a) displayed high inhibition activity against Botrytis cinerea with 87.5%inhibition at 100 µg/mL; 4a, and N-(4-isopropylphenyl)-6-methyl-2-((pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio)pyrimidin-4-amine (4c), N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-methyl-2-((pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio)pyrimidin-4-amine (4d) and N-(2-hydroxy-5-chloro)-6-methyl-2-((pyridin-3-ylmethyl)thio)pyrimidin- 4-amine (4h) exhibited sufficient activities against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum with 86.6% –93.7% inhibitions at the same concentration.     

Synthesis of 2‐Deoxy‐2‐thiophenylglucosyl Azides through 1,2 Thio Migration of Thiophenyl Mannosides

2‐Deoxy‐2‐thio glucosyl azides bearing or not bearing an azido group at the 6‐position can be conveniently obtained through a 1,2‐thio migration from thiophenyl mannoside derivatives.     

A novel calcium-dependent bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C displaying unprecedented magnitudes of thio effect,inverse thio effect,and stereoselectivity

Understanding the potential range of enzymatic thio effects (kO/kS) is of great value when using sulfur-substituted phosphate analogues to study phosphoryl transfer reactions in enzymes and ribozymes. Herein we report that a newly discovered Ca2+-dependent Streptomyces antibioticus phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and its mutants display unprecedented magnitudes of thio effect, inverse thio effect, and RP/SP stereoselectivity. We demonstrate that for a single enzyme the bridging thio effect can vary from 0.002 to 20 and the nonbridging thio effect can vary from 1 to 108. These values fall outside the range of those reported for nonenzymatic reactions, emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation when using thio effects to elucidate details of enzyme catalysis.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel pyridazinone derivatives containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety

Abstract

A series of novel pyridazinone derivatives containing the 1,3,4-thiadiazole moiety were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, 13C NMR, spectroscopies HRMS and IR. Among them, the structure of compound 5c (2-(Tert-butyl)?4-chloro-5-((5-((2-ethylphenyl)amino)?1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)pyridazin-3(2H)-One) was unambiguously confirmed via single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The inhibitory activity of all the target compounds against MGC-803 and Bcap-37 was determined by MTT assay, with doxorubicin (the inhibition rates were 95.5?±?0.4% and 95.7?±?1.0% respectively) as a control. The preliminary results showed that the inhibitory activity of compound 5n (2-(Tert-butyl)?4-chloro-5-((5-((3-fluorophenyl)amino)?1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)pyridazin-3(2H)-One) was superior to the others. The inhibition rates of MGC-803 and Bcap-37 cells were 86.3?±?2.2% and 92.3?±?0.6% at a concentration of 10?μmol/L, respectively. The preliminary structure-activity relationship showed that when the 2-position of the benzene ring was substituted by a methyl group, such as compound 5j (2-(Tert-butyl)?4-chloro-5-((5-((2,3-dimethylphenyl)amino)?1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)pyridazin-3(2H)-One), it exhibited good anticancer activity on MGC-803 cells. Besides, introducing fluorine, chlorine, or trifluoromethyl group onto the benzene ring, such as compound 5?m (2-(Tert-butyl)?4-chloro-5-((5-((4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)amino)?1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)pyridazin-3(2H)-One), displayed good anticancer activity on MGC-803 and Bcap-37 cells.     

Synthesis and nematicidal activities of 1,2,3-benzotriazin-4-one containing 4,5-dihydrothiazole-2-thiol derivatives against Meloidogyne incognita

Abstract

A series of novel 1,2,3-benzotriazin-4-one derivatives containing 4,5-dihydrothiazole-2-thiol were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹⁹F NMR and HRMS. The bioassay results showed that compounds 3-(3-((4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)thio)propyl)-7-methoxybenzo[d][1–3]triazin-4(3H)-one, 3-(3-((4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)thio)propyl)-6-nitrobenzo[d][1–3]triazin-4(3H)-one, 7-chloro-3-(3-((4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)thio)propyl)benzo[d][1–3]triazin-4(3H)-one exhibited good control efficacy against the cucumber root-knot nematode disease caused by Meloidogyne incognita at the concentration of 10.0?mg L^?1 in vivo. Compound 7-chloro-3-(3-((4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)thio)propyl)benzo[d][1–3]triazin-4(3H)-one showed excellent nematicidal activity with inhibition 68.3% at a concentration of 1.0?mg L^?1. It suggested that the structure of 1,2,3-benzotriazin-4-one containing 4,5-dihydro-thiazole-2-thiol could be optimized further.     

Exceptionally Persistent Nitrogen-Centered Free Radicals. Syntheses, ESR Spectra, Isolation, and X-ray Crystallographic Structures of N-(Arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylphenylaminyl and N-(Arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylphenylaminyl Radicals(1)

The preparation, ESR spectra, isolation, and X-ray crystallographic structure of N-(arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylphenylaminyls (1) and N-(arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylphenylaminyls (2) are described. The aminyls are generated by PbO(2) oxidation of N-(arylthio)-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diarylanilines and N-(arylthio)-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diarylanilines. The kinetic ESR study shows that the aminyls are quite persistent, even in the presence of oxygen, and exist in the individual radical forms. Among the seventeen aminyls prepared, N-[(4-nitrophenyl)thio]-2-tert-butyl-4,6-diphenylphenylaminyl (1b), N-[(4-nitrophenyl)thio]-2-tert-butyl-4,6-bis(4-chlorophenyl)phenylaminyl (1f), N-[(4-nitrophenyl)thio]-4-tert-butyl-2,6-diphenylphenylaminyl (2b), N-[(4-nitrophenyl)thio]-4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(4-chlorophenyl)phenylaminyl (2h), and N-[(3,5-dichlorophenyl)thio]-4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis(4-chlorophenyl)phenylaminyl (2j) are isolated as radical crystals. The crystallographic structures of 1b and 2b are determined by the X-ray crystallographic analyses. Aminyls 1 and 2 give similar ESR spectra consisting of 1:1:1 triplets with the a(N) values of 0.921-0.948 mT. Deuteration of the phenyl groups on the anilino benzene ring gives rise to a further splitting of the nitrogen 1:1:1 triplet by the anilino meta (0.126-0.138) and phenylthiyl ortho and para protons (0.077-0.096 mT). Upon recording at high gain, one of the partly deuterated aminyls gives satellite lines due to (33)S isotopes at natural abundance from which a(33)(S) is determined to be 0.51 mT. The ESR parameters for 1 and 2 are compared with those for structurally close N-(arylthio)-2,4,6-triarylphenylaminyl and N-(arylthio)-2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenylaminyl.     

Synthesis of transparent block copolymers consisting of poly(diisopropyl fumarate) and poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) segments by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization using trithiocarbonates as the chain transfer agents

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of diisopropyl fumarate (DiPF) was carried out using ethyl 2-[[(dodecylthio)thioxymethyl]thio]-2-methylpropionate (T1) and 1,1′-(1,2-ethanediyl) bis[2-[[(dodecylthio)thioxymethyl]thio]-2-methylpropionate] (T2) as the monofunctional and difunctional chain transfer agents (CTAs) to synthesize poly(diisopropyl fumarate) (PDiPF) with a rigid chain conformation. The obtained PDiPF had a well-controlled molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, and structure of the chain ends. Size exclusion chromatography and NMR measurements revealed an excellent introduction efficiency (84–98%) of the terminal trithiocarbonate group into the polymer chain end. They were available as the monofunctional and difunctional macro-CTAs to synthesize the AB and ABA block copolymers, respectively. While the well-controlled block copolymers were solely obtained by the polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as the second monomer in the presence of PDiPF as the macro-CTA, the block copolymerization of DiPF using poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) as the macro-CTA failed. The trithiocarbonate group at the chain end was completely removed by the reaction with n-butylamine and it was valid for the improvement of the coloration and other optical properties of the transparent polymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2584–2594     

Hydrogen bonding in two salts of 3‐methylthio‐4‐(propargylthio)quinoline

In 3‐methyl­thio‐4‐(propargyl­thio)­quinolinium chloride monohydrate, C₁₃H₁₂NS₂⁺·Cl^?·H₂O, and 3‐methyl­thio‐4‐(propargyl­thio)­quinolinium tri­chloro­acetate, C₁₃H₁₂­NS₂⁺·­C₂Cl₃O₂^?, the terminal alkyne group forms C[triple‐bond]C—H?O hydrogen bonds of favourable geometry. The conformation of the flexible propargyl­thio group is different in the two structures.     

Hybrid QM/MM study of thio effects in transphosphorylation reactions

Results of a series of hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) activated dynamics simulations of thio effects in the transphosphorylation (methanolysis) of a 2'-ribose, 5'-methyl phosphate-diester under basic conditions are presented. Single and double substitutions in the nonbridging oxygen positions exhibit thio effects in accord with experimental data and show the existence of a stable intermediate. Thio substitution at the 2' and 5' positions resulted in reactions having a single transition state with increased and decreased free energy barriers, respectively, relative to the unsubstituted reaction. In all of the reactions except for the 5' substitution, the rate-limiting step corresponds to exocyclic cleavage. In the 5' substitution reaction, the rate-limiting step corresponds to endocyclic cleavage and shows a considerable reverse thio effect, in accord with experimental observations of phosphates with enhanced leaving groups. Thio substitution at the 3' position results in a mild reverse thio effect that arises from electronic stabilization of the dianionic transition state. The results presented here provide an important step toward the development and application of new hybrid QM/MM methods that, combined with experiment, may provide a detailed picture of the molecular mechanisms of RNA catalysis.     

The interplay of thio(seleno)amide/vinylogous thio(seleno)amide "resonance" and the anisotropic effect of thiocarbonyl and selenocarbonyl functional groups

Amino-substituted thio(seleno)acrylamides 1-4 were synthesized and their 1H and 13C NMR spectra assigned. Both the NMR data and the results of theoretical calculations at the ab initio level of theory were employed to elucidate the adopted structures of the compounds in terms of E/Z isomerism and s-cis/s-trans configuration. In the case of the asymmetrically N(Me)Ph-substituted compounds, ab initio GIAO-calculated ring current effects of the N-phenyl group were applied to successfully determine the preferred conformer bias. The restricted rotations about the two C-N partial double bonds were studied by DNMR and the barriers to rotation (DeltaG(c)++) determined at the coalescence temperatures, and these were discussed with respect to the structural differences between the compounds. The barriers to rotation were also calculated at the ab initio level of theory where the best results (R(2) = 0.8746) were obtained only with inclusion of the solvent at the SCIPCM-HF/6-31G* level of theory. The calculations also provided means of assessing structural influences which were not available due to inaccessible rotation barriers. By means of natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of 1-4, the occupation numbers of nitrogen lone pairs and bonding/antibonding pi/pi orbitals were shown to quantitatively describe thio(seleno)amide/vinylogous thio(seleno)amide "resonance". Finally, the thio(seleno)carbonyl anisotropic effect was quantitatively calculated by the GIAO method and visualized by isochemical shielding surfaces (ICSS). Only marginal differences between the two anisotropic effects were calculated and are therefore of questionable utility for previous and future applications with respect to stereochemical assignments.     

Ammonium-chlor(thio)phosphat-Betaine,eine Klasse koordinationsstabilisierter Chlor(thio)metaphosphate

Ammonium Chloro(thio)phosphate Betaines, a Class of Coordination-stabilized Chloro(thio)metaphosphates Ammonium chloro(thio)phosphate betaines behave like systems being in equilibrium with tert. amine and monomeric chloro(thio)metaphosphate. In solution at room temperature the amine component can be displaced by stronger donors. Mass spectra reveal the presence of ClPS₂ as monomer and dimer, of ClPO₂ by fragment ions of the dimer, trimer, and tetramer before reorganization takes place to form PXCl₃ and P₄X₁₀ (X = O, S). Detection of ClPOS fails owing to fast equilibration into ClPO₂ and ClPS₂.     

A one-pot chemoselective S-alkylation and acetylation of thiohydantoins using the alkyl orthoformate-ZnCl2-Ac2O reagent system

The chemoselective S-alkylation of 2-thiohydantoins is reported. The methodology involves the use of alkyl orthoformates (trimethyl and triethyl) as alkylating agents, which in the presence of Ac₂O and ZnCl₂ chemoselectively alkylate the thio group whilst other nucleophilic groups present in the thiohydantoins are acetylated simultaneously in moderate to high yields. A plausible mechanism for this reaction is delineated.