Abstract
In order to clarify the mechanism for the formation of trithiocarbonates by treatment of sodium xanthogenates, derived from allylic and benzylic alcohols, with methyl iodide in carbon disulfide-dimethyl sulfoxide mixture, 1b) the same experiments were made with sodium O-benzyl xanthogenate. Results of chemica1 reactions and ultraviolet spectral data supported the presumption that this reaction involved the following key steps : (a) Formation of sodium benzyl and methyldithiolcarbonates from sodium O-benzyl xanthogenate by reaction with methyl iodide, (b) transformation of the dithiolcarbonates to sodium benzyl and sodium methyltrithiocarbonates by the attack of carbon disulfide present in excess, and (c) alkylation of trithiocarbonates (monoester) with dibenzyl or benzyl S-methyl xanthates to their diester.
