Abstract
Thioketone 6 was prepared by thiation of isothiocolchicine (3) with Lawesson's reagent. Acid hydrolysis of 9-thiodeoxothiocolchicine (5) and the iso-isomer 6 afforded, in both cases, a similar mixture of deacetylthiocolchicine 2 and deacetylisothiocolchicine 4. Acetylation of 4 afforded isothiocolchicine (3).