Abstract:
The α-oxoketene dithioacetals are generally crystalline solids or distillable liquids
and exhibit prolonged shelf-life. They are stable at room temperature and reasonably
stable to mild acidic and basic conditions. On the other hand, the corresponding O,Oacetals
B are moisture sensitive and are susceptible for hydrolysis even under mild
conditions. Although few of α-oxoketene dithioacetals were reported in 19102 and later on
by Thuillier and co-workers,3 no systematic investigation on the reactivity and synthetic
applications of these versatile synthons was undertaken until mid 1970’s when Junjappa
and Ila’s group extensively explored the synthetic utility of these compounds and
developed new general methods for various heterocycles and carbocycles based on these
intermediates. This work has been highlighted in several reviews.1