The synthesis and spectra of polycyclic 1,2,3-trithiolans

Abstract

Polycyclic 1,2,3-trithiolans have been made by reacting the olefins exo- and endo-cyclopentadiene dimer, cyclopentadiene trimer, and norbornene with elemental sulphur. The reaction with norbornadiene produced an episulphide. The vibrational (i.r. and Raman) and magnetic (¹H and ¹³C n.m.r.) spectra of the trithiolans are consistent with a five-membered ring structure with three adjacent sulphur atoms in an exo-configuration. The trithiolans are chemically fairly stable but polymerise rapidly on heating above 180°C.