Unusual mode of reactivity of 2-alkylidene-4-oxothiazolidine S-oxides under the Pummerer reaction conditions

The reactivity of 2-alkylidene-4-oxothiazolidine S-oxides under the Pummerer reaction conditions, using Ac2O, TFAA, SOCl2 and SOBr2 as initiators, has been examined. Almost all reactions proceeded with absolute regioselectivity yielding α-substituted sulfides or vinyl-chloro derivatives. The mechanism for the formation of the latter products was postulated and proved experimentally.