SYNTHESIS OF BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)TRISULFIDE AND BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYLTHIO)SELENIDE

The use of 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst in the reaction of tr ifluoromethylsulfenyl chloride with hydrogen sulfide at -78-degrees-C cuts down the time of reaction from 30 d to 1 d and gives up to 70% yi eld of bis(trifluoromethyl)trisulfide (1). Similarly, bis(trifluoromet bylthio)selenide (2) can be prepared from hydrogen selenide and triflu oromethylsulfenyl chloride. The influence of other catalysts on the co urse of the reaction, the formation of unusual by-products, the NMR an d mass spectral data of 1 and 2 are presented in this paper.