REACTION OF THIOLS WITH EPOXIDES OF CONJUGATED 1,4-DIKETONES

Abstract

The reaction of thiols with 2,3-epoxides of bicyclo, conjugated 1,4-diketones was found to proceed readily to give the dehydrated thio-substituted enediones or their enolized isomers, depending upon the reaction conditions and the bicyclic bridging of the starting materials. In no case was a mixture of these isomers observed. Enediones generally resulted from these reactions with and without triethylamine catalysis, whereas the use of an equimolar amount of triethylamine generally gave hydroquinones. The ease of rearrangement of enedione to hydroquinone followed the order: 2,3-dimethylbutadiene adduct [Formula: see text] reduced cyclopentadiene adduct > cyclopentadiene adduct = 1,3-cyclohexadiene adduct.