Electrochemical Reduction and Oxidation of 3,4-Disubstituted 1,2,5-Thiadiazoles

Abstract

The electron-acceptor nitrogen and sulfur atoms in 3,4-disubstituted 1,2,5-thiadiazoles are responsible for much decreased reduction potentials and much increased oxidation potentials of these compounds compared with the corresponding carbocyclic derivatives. The thiadiazole ring is resistant to oxidation, and the reversible electron transfer gives rise to fairly stable radical cations. Reductive stability of the heterocycle depends on the nature of its substituents and on the medium: When nucleofuge substituents are present, two-electron transfer in aprotic media results in heteroring opening with iminonitrile formation, whereas in the presence of two readily leaving groups, the electron transfer induces cleavage of the complete heteroring into inorganic anions.