SYNTHESIS AND DIELS—ALDER REACTIONS OF 2,3-BIS(BENZENETHIO)-1,3-BUTADIENE

Abstract Two different routes to the preparation of 2,3-bis(benzenethio)-1,3-butadiene (1) are reported. Diene 1 is shown to react with maleic anhydride, (E)-1,2-bis(benzenesulfonyl)ethyene and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to give the respective Diels-Alder adducts. The adduct to (E)-1,2-bis(benzenesulfonyl)ethylene (4) has been reductively desulfonylated to the bisthioether 7 which was subsequently oxidized to the corresponding bissulfone 8, providing an entry to bis(benzenthio) and bis(benzenesulfonyl) activated molecules.