Thermolysis of 4,4'-dichloro-, 4,4'-diaryl-, and 4,4'-di(thien-2-yl)-5,5'-bi(1,2,3-dithiazol-ylidenes) affords the respective 3,6-dichloro-, 3,6-diaryl- and 3,6-di(thien-2-yl)isothiazolo[5,4-d]-isothiazoles in low to high yields. The transformation of the 4,4'-diaryl- and 4,4'-di(thien-2-yl)-5,5'-bi(1,2,3-dithiazolylidenes) occurs at lower temperatures in the presence of the thiophiles triphenylphosphine or tetraethylammonium iodide. Optimized reaction conditions and a mechanistic rationale for the thiophile-mediated ring transformation are presented.
Keywords: dithiazoles; isothiazoles; ring transformation; sulfur-nitrogen heterocycles.