Synthesis of 2-methylthioindolizine-3-carbonitriles using nitro ketene dithioacetal

The reaction of 1-cyanomethylpyridinium chloride or bromide, 1a-i , with 1,1-bis(methylthio)-2-nitroethylene ( 2 ) in the presence of triethylamine as a base in ethanol gave the corresponding 2-methylthioindolizine-3-carbonitrile 3 and 2-methyl-thio-1-nitroindolizine-3-carbonitrile 4 in good yields, respectively. Compounds 3a,f were key intermediates for the synthesis of cycl[3.2.2]azine derivatives.