Evidence for a transition state model compound of in-plane vinylic SN2 reaction

reaction: see text] To isolate a transition state model compound of an in-plane vinylic S(N)2 reaction, vinyl bromide 6 bearing a newly synthesized tridentate ligand derived from 1,8-dimethoxythioxanthen-9-one (5) was prepared as a precursor. Although irradiation of 6 gave demethylated benzofuran 12, a transient broad peak which indicates formation of the desired transition state model compound was observed in the laser flash photolytic study.