Phosphine-assisted rearrangement of 4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithianes to 4-hydroxy-3-mercaptotetrahydrothiophenes

摘要

Treatment of 4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithianes with trialkylphosphines and triphenylphosphine under neutral and moderately basic conditions led to the efficient and stereospecific production of 4-hydroxy-3-mercaptotetrahydrothiophenes. The reaction is projected to proceed through three successive intramolecular rearrangements.