Applications of dithioacetals in ester synthesis

Abstract

The α-oxoketene dithioacetals are simple synthetic intermediates widely utilized and implicated for the synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic compounds other than alicyclic and aromatic compounds. They act as 1,3-electrophilic three-carbon synthons. The -oxoketene dithioacetal of pyrazolone derivatives can be efficiently converted through a base-catalyzed alcoholysis into the corresponding ester in a single one-step reaction with good yield of pure products. In this article, we summarize recent direct conversion of α-oxoketene dithioacetals to highly desirable esters. The overall process is an example of intramolecular rearrangement of bonds. Characterization and identification of all synthesized compounds were assigned through 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy.