Studies on organophosphorus compounds—XXVII: Synthesis of thiono-, thiolo- and dithiolactones

Unsubstituted and alkyl- or cyanosubstituted lactones such as dihydro-2(3 H)-furanone, dihydro-5-methyl-2(3 H)-furanone, dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-4-propyl-2(3 H)-furanone and tetrahydro-2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-3furan-carbonitrile react with the dimer of p-methoxyphenylthionophosphine sulfide, 1, in anhydrous xylene or toluene to give the corresponding thionolactones, 3a-d, in good yields. Dihydro-2(3 H)-thiophenone and 1 produce dihydro-2(3 H)-thiophenthione. Aromatic lactones such as 2 H-1-benzopyran-2-one give the corresponding 2-thione. 1-Oxa-4-thiaspiro[4,5]decan-2-one, when treated with 1 at 120-125°, gave 1,4-dithiaspiro[4,5]decan-2-one and 1,4-dithias-piro[4,5]decan-2-thione. Tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-4-propyl-3-furancarboxylic acid ethyl ester reacted with 1 at 110° giving the corresponding 2-thione and 5,5-dimethyl-4-propyl-4,5-dihydrothieno[2,3-c]-1,2-dithiole-3-thione.