Addition of Diazomethane to Phosphonodithioformates and Reactions of Phosphonylated Thiocarbonyl S-Methylides

The reaction of phosphonodithioformates 14 with diazomethane at –60°C yielded 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazoles 15 as unstable intermediates. Their structure was evidenced by the base-catalyzed elimination of methylsulfane leading to 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-phosphonates. At ca. –35°C, thermal decomposition of 15 by N2-elimination led to reactive thiocarbonyl S-methylides 17. In the absence of trapping reagents, these 1,3-dipoles undergo a head-to-head dimerization leading to 1,4-dithianes 18. An intermediate zwitterionic dimer 19 was detected by 31P NMR spectroscopy. The initially formed thiocarbonyl S-methylide 17 as well as an open-chain zwitterionic dimer 20 was intercepted by methanol. Stable interception products were also obtained with S- and N-nucleophiles.