Alkyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulphides

Alkyl (or Aryl) 2 4-dinitrophenyl-sulphides (or thioethers) and the corresponding sulphones. Mercaptans react with 2 4-dinitrochlorobenzene in alkaline solution to yield crystalhne thioethers (2 4-dinitrophenyl-sulphides) (I) ... 

Formation of a symmetrical sulphide (a) (e.g. dipropyl sulphide, Expt 5.204), is conveniently effected by boiling an alkyl halide (the source of carbocations) with sodium sulphide in ethanolic solution. Mixed sulphides (b) are prepared by alkylation of a thiolate salt (a mercaptide) with an alkyl halide (cf. Williamson s ether synthesis, Section 5.6.2, p. 583). In the case of an alkyl aryl sulphide (R-S Ar) where the aromatic ring contains activating nitro groups (see Section 6.5.3, p. 900), the aryl halide is used with the alkyl thiolate salt. The alternative alkylation of a substituted thiophenol is described in Section 8.3.4, p. 1160. The former procedure is illustrated by the preparation of isobutyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulphide (Expt 5.205) from l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 2-methylpropane-1-thiol. 

Popova and colleagues47 carried out TLC of oxidation products of 4,4 -dinitrodiphenyl sulphide (the sulphoxide and sulphone) on silica gel + a fluorescent indicator, using hexane-acetone-benzene-methanol(60 36 10 l) as solvent mixture. Morris130 performed GLC and TLC of dimethyl sulphoxide. For the latter, he applied a 6% solution of the sample in methanol to silica gel and developed with methanol-ammonia solution(200 3), visualizing with 2% aqueous Co11 thiocyanate-methanol(2 1). HPLC separations of chiral mixtures of sulphoxides have been carried out. Thus Pirkle and coworkers131-132 reported separations of alkyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulphoxides and some others on a silica-gel (Porosil)-bonded chiral fluoroalcoholic stationary phase, with the structure ... 

Arylations are commoner than alkylations. Ullmann and Nadai s preparation of dinitrochlorobenzenes, and its extension to that of diphenyl ethers—reactions in which the nucleophiles are chloride ions and phenols, respectively—have been mentioned already (p. 268). Applied to l-(2,4-dinitronaphthyl)pyridinium chloride, the reaction gives l-chloro-2,4-dinitronaphthalene, and the same salt reacts with water to give the naphthol, with hydrogen sulphide to yield the thionaphthol, and with carboxylic acids to form dinitronaphthyl esters . Amines , alcohols , mercaptans and thiophenols have been dinitrophenylated with pyridinium salts. Styrylpyridinium salts give N-styrylpiperidine with piperidine . 

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