The synthesis of bis(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-phenylmethyl) sulfides and other related 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from 1,1′-diphenylthiodiacetic acid dihydrazide and triethyl orthoesters

Reactions of symmetrical 1,1′-diphenylthiodiacetic acid dihydrazide and triethyl orthoesters in the presence of catalytic amount of glacial acetic acid resulted in the formation of three heterocyclic products: the appropriate bis(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-phenylmethyl) sulfides, 2-benzyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 2-benzoyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles. The presence of the latter two compounds is connected with carbon-sulfur fission in the molecule of the starting hydrazide. The identity of the unexpected fission products was confirmed by parallel syntheses of the model 1,3,4-oxadiazoles from phenylacetic acid hydrazide and 2-hydroxymethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives.