Aryl halodiazarines are reduced by potassium ethyl xanthate to give benzoni
trile as the major product along with significant amounts of a novel hetero
cyclic product, 3-phenyl-5-ethoxy-1,2,4-thiadiazole. A mechanism involving
fragmentation of an N-substituted diazirine is considered. (C) 1998 Elsevie
r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.