SULFURATION OF DIENES WITH ELEMENTAL SULFUR

Elemental sulfur reacts with conjugated 1,3-dienes to deliver cyclic d i- and polysulfides; the reaction proceeds without any activation othe r than heat. Treatment of cyclic polysulfide products with triphenylph osphine cleanly converts them to the corresponding disulfide in good o verall yield. Additionally, some mechanistic aspects have been examine d. The presence of disulfur as an active species in the sulfuration of dienes with S-8 is discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.