The preparation of a solubilized form of Lawessons reagent and its thionation reactions

2-tert-Butylanisole and P4S10 react together to give 2,4-bis (3-tbutyl-4-methoxyphenyl) 1,3, 2, 4-dithiadiphosphetane 2, 4-disulfide (LR*) which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Comparative thionation reactions of LR* and a range of P-S compounds were investigated. If was found that LR* in many cases, gives better yields of thionated complexes than Lawessons Reagent when the reactions are performed at room temperature. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc