Abstract
The insecticide salithion (2-methoxy-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin 2-sulfide) and its 4-cyano derivatives were prepared in good yields by utilizing an intramolecular cyclization reaction as the key step. The structures of diastereomers of the 4-cyano derivatives were characterized on the bases of NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.