The Scientific Sections

Abstract

Electrosynthesis of sulfur-containing organic compounds from aliene derivatives was studied using a sacrificial mixture sulfur/graphite electrode. 1,3-bis(methoxycarbonyl)propadiene (1a), 1,1,-diphenyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1, 2-butadiene (1b), 1,3-diphenylpropadiene (1c), and 1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-butadiene (1d) were used as allenes. With la, 6-membered ring compounds with 2S atoms such as dihydrodithiin (2a) and dithiin (3a) and a dimer bridged with 2S atoms (4a) were obtained and their yields were largely dependent on the kind of proton donors used. On the other hand, 1b afforded a 5-membered ring compound with 3S atoms such as 1,2,3-tirthiolane (5b) different from the case of 1a. All products will be initiated by the addition of the polysulfide anion produced by electroeduction of elemental sulfur. With 1c and 1d, sulfur-containing organic compounds were not produced.