Photo SN-bond cleavage and related reactions of thianthrene sulfilimine derivatives

Several 1- and 2-substituted thianthrene sulfilimine derivatives were prepared and the selectivity toward oxidation and N-tosylimination under several conditions was studied. In the photolysis of trans-5-(N-p-tosyl)iminothianthrene 10-oxide (trans-10), photo isomerization to cis-10 was observed. Further, photoimino-transfer reaction of sulfilimines and their 10-mono- and -dioxide derivatives to sulfides was intensively studied to make clear the ability as nitrene precursors.