Selective Sulfurization of Olefins by 9,10‐Epidithio‐9,10‐dihydroanthracene: Intermediacy of Diatomic Sulfur.

Abstract The reaction of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-(1,3-epidithio-2-methano-2-p-methoxyphenyl-1-oxide)propanoanthracene (3) with perchloric acid in the presence of 1,3-butadienes and electron-rich olefins gave 1,2-dithiins and episulfides, respectively. The reaction is explained in terms of an intermediate anthracene endodisulfide with transfer of singlet diatomic sulfur to the dienes and olefins.