Dithiirane or thiosulfine intermediates in the reaction of acetyl diaroylchloromethyl disulfides with secondary amines?

Summary Since 1979,Senning's acetyl dibenzoylchloromethyl disulfide has been known as one of the first thiosulfine/dithiirane precursors. Its reactions with an excess of morpholine fulfill three advantageous conditions at once: thiosulfine or dithiirane species are intercepted by intermolecular additions, without heating, and without rearrangements. In the present work, reactions between a series of new acetyl diaroylchloromethyl disulfides ((4-X-C₆H₄-CO)₂-CCl-SSCOCH₃;X=F, Cl, Br, CH₃, and CH₃O) and an excess of morpholine are studied. As dominating products, 2-(4-morpholinyldithio)-1,3-diaryl-1,3-propanediones are obtained. The reactions are complete within several seconds. In order to obtain high yields of interception products, the mixtures have to be worked up within a few minutes. From the observation of high reaction rates at room temperature, a new reaction mechanism is deduced that involves the initial formation of dithiirane species (alone or before thiosulfine species).Dedicated to Prof.Peter K. Claus on the occasion of his 60th birthday