Novel synthesis of new 1,2,4‐trithioles by reductive coupling of benzoyldithioacetic acid derivatives mediated by Sml2

1,2,4‐trithioles 2a–e are readily obtained in good yields by dimerization of benzoyldithioacetic acid derivatives using samarium diiodide as a promotor under very mild conditions. The structures of compounds 2a–e were determined by IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies using heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy experiments, mass spectrometry, and, in the case of 2a, the structure was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:329–335, 2000