| Abstract: | Optically active 4,9‐diethyl[1,4]‐dithiino[5,6‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5‐oxide ( 3 ) and 4,9‐diethyl[1,4]dithiino[5,6‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5,8‐dioxide ( 4 ) were obtained by the asymmetric oxidation of 6,11‐diethyl[1,4]dithiino[5,6‐h]benzo[1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin ( 1 ). The reaction was accompanied by desulfurization and ring‐contraction reactions of the pentathiepin ring. Similarly, optically active 4,8‐diethyl[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐f]benzo[1,2,3]trithiole 5‐oxide ( 7 ) was produced by the analogous asymmetric oxidation of 6,10‐diethyl[1,3]dithiolo[4,5‐h]benzo[1,2,3,4,5]pentathiepin ( 2 ). The specific rotations of 3 , 4 , and 7 were measured in chloroform, and their optical purity was verified by 1H NMR with a shift reagent [Eu(hfc)3]. The structures of 4 and 7 were determined by X‐ray crystallography using Cu Kα radiation, and the absolute configuration of the sulfinyl group was examined based on the Flack parameter, which revealed that 4 has an RR configuration, while 7 has an S configuration. The circular dichroism spectra of 3 , 4 , and 7 were measured in chloroform. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:88–94, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10104 |
