Thiol Esters in Organic Synthesis XVII.¹ S,S′-Diethyl Dithiomalonate as Masked Ethanol Carbanion and 1,3-Diol Equivalent in the Knoevenagel Condensation

Abstract

S,S′-Diethyl dithiomalonate (1) has been shown to be a useful reagent in the Knoevenagel condensation with aldehydes, using DABCO as the base. The resultant products can be reduced either to 1,3-diols by use of sodium borohydride or to ethanol derivatives using Raney Nickel.