Addition of thiols to N-vinyl and N-allyl thio lactams

Abstract

1. A study was made of the addition of thiols to N-vinyl and N-allyl thio lactams in presence of azodiisobutyronitrile as initiator. 2. Under the given conditions alkanethiols add to these compounds in the direction contrary to that required by Markovnikov's rule; benzenethiol adds to N-allyl thio lactams in the contrary direction also, but it adds to N-vinyl thio lactams in accordance with this rule. 3. Under like conditions, the yields of the products of addition to N-vinyl thio lactams are higher than those of the products of addition to N-allyl thio lactams.