SELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF ORGANIC SULFIDES AND DISULFIDES BY THE REDUCTION OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR WITH SAMARIUM DIIODIDE

Elemental sulfur can be reduced to the corresponding thiolate anion sp ecies (S2- and S-2(2-)) selectively by samarium diiodide in the presen ce and absence of HMPA, respectively The subsequent alkylation of the thiolate anion species provides a useful synthetic route to dialkyl su lfides and disulfides. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.