With thiiranes

Phosgene reacts exothermically with thiirane in two steps (Scheme 36) (77MI50602). 3,5-Dinitrobenzoyl chloride and benzoyl fluoride initiate polymerization of thiirane. A novel reaction of benzoyl isocyanate or trichloroacetyl isocyanate, which yields ethylenethiol derivatives from epithiochlorohydrin (2-chloromethylthiirane), 2-methylthiirane or cyclohexene episulfide, has been reported (Scheme 37) (71BAU2432). 

R2ASNCS, react similarly to the phosphorus halides (76RCR25). Halosilanes do not react with thiiranes. 

Lithium aluminum hydride normally reacts with thiiranes via nucleophilic attack on carbon, but where that process is hindered sulfur is attacked to give the alkene, usually in good yield, and lithium sulfide (70JPR421). 

Primary and secondary aliphatic and aromatic amines react readily with thiiranes to give 2-mercaptoethylamine derivatives (Scheme 76) (76RCR25, 66CRV297). The reaction fails or gives poor yields with amines which are sterically hindered e.g. N,iV-dicyclohexylamine) or whose nitrogen atom is weakly basic e.g. N,A/ -diphenylamine). Aromatic amines are less reactive and higher reaction temperatures are usually required for them. The reaction mechanism is Sn2 and substituted thiiranes are attacked preferentially at the least hindered... 

The acid-catalyzed additions of bromide and chloride ion to thiiranes occurs readily, with halide preferentially but not exclusively attacking the most substituted carbon atom of the thiirane. The reaction of 1-substituted thiiranes with acetyl chloride shows a slight preference for halide attack at the less substituted carbon atom (80MI50601). For further discussion of electrophilic catalysis of halide ion attack see Section 5.06.3.3.2. The reaction of halogens with thiiranes involves electrophilic attack on sulfur (Section 5.06.3.3.6) followed by nucleophilic attack of halide ion on carbon. 

The triphenyllead anion reacts with thiirane to give 2-mercaptoethyltriphenyllead. 

Thiirane is more bactericidal than oxirane, and derivatives of 2-mei captomethylthiirane inhibit tuberculosis. The following pharmacological uses have been reported for compounds derived from thiirane derivatives gold complexes of the adducts of diethylphosphine and thiirane (antiarthritic), adducts of thiiranes and malononitrile (antibacterial, blood vessel dilators, muscle relaxants, sedatives), thermolysis products of thiirane 1-oxides and adducts of thiirane 1-oxides with sulfenyl chlorides (antibacterial), adducts of 2,3-diarylthiirene 1,1-dioxides with ynamines (antibacterial, parasiticidal), adducts of 2,3-diarylthiirene 1,1-dioxides with enamines (antifertility), adducts of p-aminophenylacetic esters with thiirane (immunosuppressants), adducts of amines and thiiranes (radioprotective drugs). 

Ethers, esters, amides and imidazolidines containing an epithio group are said to be effective in enhancing the antiwear and extreme pressure peiformance of lubricants. Other uses of thiiranes are as follows fuel gas odorant (2-methylthiirane), improvement of antistatic and wetting properties of fibers and films [poly(ethyleneglycol) ethers of 2-hydroxymethyl thiirane], inhibition of alkene metathesis (2-methylthiirane), stabilizers for poly(thiirane) (halogen adducts of thiiranes), enhancement of respiration of tobacco leaves (thiirane), tobacco additives to reduce nicotine and to reduce phenol levels in smoke [2-(methoxymethyl)thiirane], stabilizers for trichloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (2-methylthiirane, 2-hydroxymethylthiirane) and stabilizers for organic compounds (0,0-dialkyldithiophosphate esters of 2-mercaptomethylthiirane). The product of the reaction of aniline with thiirane is reported to be useful in the flotation of zinc sulfide. 

The above explains the key roles of (a) the nucleophilicity of the nucleophile (b) the substituent(s) (c) the polarity of the reaction medium and (d) the the bulkiness of the nucleophile, in determining the regio- and stereo-specificity of the reaction. The reaction of alkyl chloromethyl ethers with thiirane oxides to give sulfenic esters128 appears to be mechanistically analogous. 

Thus the reaction of the three geometrical isomers of 2,4-hexadiene with thiirane oxide afforded the three related 3-thiolene 5-oxides 154 depicted in equation 62104... 

Whereas the thermal ring-opening reaction of oxrranes and aziridines is frequently used for generation of carbonyl ylides and azomethine ylides, the analogous procedure starting with thiiranes does not produce the expected thiocarbonyl ylides (8). However, in the case of tetraaryl-substituted thiiranes, the photolytically mediated reaction with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) is believed to occur via a single electron transfer (SET) mechanism, also involving a thiocarbonyl ylide as a likely intermediate (75,76) (Scheme 5.14). 

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