The preparation and characterization of 5-substituted-4-chloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium salts and their conversion into 4-substituted-3-chloro-1,2,5-thiadiazoles.

A series of monosubstituted acetonitriles were treated with disulfur dichloride at room temperature in CH2Cl2 to afford 5-substituted-4-chloro-1,2,3-dithiazolium chlorides 1. Where the 5-substituent was not a good leaving group the chloride salts were converted into the corresponding perchlorate salts 2 which were sufficiently stable and soluble to provide both (1)H- and (13)C-NMR and cyclic voltammetry data. Several of the dithiazolium chlorides were converted into their corresponding 4-substituted-3-chloro-1,2,5-thiadiazoles 13 on treatment with aqueous ammonia. Mechanisms for all reactions are proposed.