FORMATION AND, REACTIONS OF ALPHA-PHOSPHORYL THIOCARBOCATIONS - SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-SULFENYL

Abstract

The reaction of chloro(methylthio and arylthio)methanephosphonate (1) and Pummerer-type reaction of sulfinylmethanephosphonate (2) with nucleophiles such as aromatic compounds and thiols were examined. The direct chlorination of, (methylthio and. arylthio)methanephosphonate with N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) led to the formation of monochlorinated phosphonates (1) in good yield. The reaction of 1 with aromatic compounds and thiols in the presence of stannic chloride afforded a variety of aryl(methylthio)methanephosphonates (3) and thioacetals of formylphosphonates (4), respectively. Phosphonates 3 and 4 were also obtained from the reaction of Pummerer intermediate, generated from sulfinylmethanephosphonate.(2), with aromatic compounds and thiols, respectively. A versatile reaction conditions to generate Pummerer intermediate were examined. The best condition was the combination of trifluoroacetic anhydride with stannic chloride. All reactions may involve an initial formation of alpha-phosphoryl thiocarbocation and a subsequent nucleophilic attack of aromatic compounds and thiols.