Sulfenylation reactions with disulfides in the presence of CCl4/base+

Abstract

AbstractSulfenylation of active methylene compounds with disulfides and CCl4/base, proceeding in two steps, gives rise to more than 50% of the introduced sulfur component due to the reoxidation of the thiolate into the starting disulfide. Depending on the reaction conditions, arylacetonitriles and diaryl disulfides react to form mono‐ or bis‐sulfenylated products. By use of this method, a number of previously unknown α, α‐bis‐sulfenylated nitriles were prepared.