A potential intermediate for the aza-Corey-Chaykovsky reaction: synthesis, structure, and thermolysis of a pentacoordinate 1,2-thiazetidine 1-oxide.

Thermolysis of a pentacoordinate 1λ6,2-thiazetidine, which was synthesized for the first time and characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis, gave the corresponding aziridine and a cyclic sulfinate almost quantitatively. The potential intermediacy of a 1λ6,2-thiazetidine was suggested in the aza-Corey−Chaykovsky reaction.