Novel method of activating thiols by their conversion into thionitrites with dinitrogen tetroxide

Abstract

The reaction of thiols with N₂O₄ in an inert organic solvent such as CCl₄ or ether at low temperatures afforded aryl and alkyl thionitrites in quantitative yields; the thionitrites thus obtained reacted very readily with other thiols or sulphinic acids to give unsymmetrical disulphides or thiolsulphonates in nearly quantitative yields.