5-Thianthrenium perchlorates, preparation

Some 5-(alkyloxy)thianthrenium perchlorates (15) have been prepared in which the alkyl group may be primary or secondary. Reaction with iodide ions may result in 5 n2 reaction at the alkyl group or NAr reaction at the sulfonium sulfur atom leading to the formation of thianthrene. ... 

The preparation of a number of 5-(alkyl)thianthrenium perchlorates has been performed from the thianthrene cation radical with dialkylmercurials and tetraalkyltins (R4Sn) <1983JOC143>. Thianthrene as well as phenoxathiin cation radical perchlorates react with alkenes. The former add stereospecifically to cycloalkenes although the latter afforded a mixture of mono- and bis-adducts in which the configuration of the alkene was retained <2003JOC8910>. 

The latter two reactions demonstrate the possibility of using thianthrenium perchlorate in preparing magnet-active ion radicals with two or even three unpaired electrons and positive charges. (At this point one very important caution has to be stated Thianthrenium perchlorate is a shock-sensitive explosive solid and should be handled with care.)... 

The thianthrene cation-radical (56) shows enhanced stability in trifluoro-acetic acid, which is recommended generally as a solvent in which to prepare cation-radicals. Thianthrenium perchlorate (56 C10 as counter-ion) reacts with substituted benzenes PhR at the para position, rapidly where R = MeO, more slowly where R = Me. The product is a sulphonium salt (58). Kinetic studies show that the reaction is second-order in the thianthrene cation-radical (56). The suggested mechanism features the thianthrene dication (57) as the reactive species, formed in low concentration by disproportionation of the thianthrene cation-radical. 

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