Reactions of Diorganyl Disulfides with Dihaloalkanes in Basic Reductive Media. Synthesis of Bis(organylthio)alkanes

A convenient preparative synthesis of bis(organylthio)alkanes was developed. It is based on alkylation with dihaloalkanes of solutions of diorganyl disulfides in the basic reductive system hydrazine hydrate-alkali. The generation of organylthiolate anions from disulfides and the subsequent reaction of the anions with dihaloalkanes are performed in one reaction vessel without isolation of intermediate alkali metal thiolates. At the same time, the reactions of diphenyl or dithienyl disulfides with dihaloalkanes result in substitution with the thiolate anions of only one halogen atom to give the corresponding unsymmetrical sulfides. In certain cases in the presence of excess alkali the latter sulfides are dehalogenated to form alkyl vinyl sulfides.