1-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,2-bis(methylsulfanyl)vinyl esters as highly efficient chemoselective acylating reagents

1-(2,5-Dichlorophenyl)-2,2-bis(methylsulfanyl)vinyl esters 4f-k were prepar ed in yields usually greater than 90%, by reacting acyl chlorides with 1-(2 ,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,2-bis(methylsulfanyl)ethanone enolate. These esters we re demonstrated to be excellent chemoselective reagents for the acylation o f amines, alcohols, thiols, pyrrole and indole. From all the acylation reac tions the dimethyl alpha-oxo dithioacetal 2d, recyclable for the preparatio n of esters 4f-k, could be recovered in 90-100% yield.