Reactivity of sulfur-centered radicals with indolinonic and quinolinic aminoxyls

Indolinonic, phenylimino-indolinonic and quinolinic aromatic aminoxyls read ily react with sulfur-centered radicals, generated upon reaction with p-met hylthiophenol at room temperature. The main product is the deoxygenated der ivative i.e, the corresponding amine. The other compounds, obtained in low yields, are N-substituted amines and amines substituted in a conjugated pos ition with respect to the amino group by arylthiyl, arylsulphinyl, arylsulp honyl and arylsulphonyloxy radicals. The formation of the products are:expl ained by the initial attack of the thiophenol radical onto the NO function to give an unstable adduct which decomposes to aminyl and arylsulphinyl rad icals. From here the reaction can take two different routes to give the pro ducts obtained.