Convenient Preparation of 2,4‐Dithiapentane, Dimethyl Disulfide, and the Corresponding Deuterated Products from DMSO or [²H₆]‐DMSO/(COCl)₂

Abstract

It has been found that 2,4‐dithiapentane and dimethyl disulfide are readily prepared in useful yields from DMSO/(COCl)2 under different conditions. The reaction mixture of DMSO/(COCl)2 was treated with 1 equivalent of Et3N and 15 equivalents of H2O to afford 2,4‐dithiapentane, whereas dimethyl disulfide was obtained by the treatment DMSO/(COCl)2 with 10 equivalents of H2O without Et3N. The corresponding deuterated products, [2H8]‐2,4‐dithiapentane, [2H6]‐dimethyl disulfide, and [2H6]‐methyl methanethiosulfonate were also prepared from the reactions of [2H6]‐DMSO with (COCl)2.