UNEXPECTED FORMATION AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF 3-(4-TOLUENESULFONYL)-2-(4-TOLUENESULFONYLIMINO)-1,3-THIAZETIDINE

Reaction of N‐(4‐toluenesulfonyl)dithiocarbamic acid with methylene iodide, in the presence of base in DMSO solution has not yielded the expected (4‐toluenesulfonyl)‐1,3‐dithietane. Instead in low yield 3‐(4‐toluenesulfonyl)‐2‐(4‐toluenesulfonylimino)‐1,3‐thiazetidine has been isolated. The structure of the compound is deduced from elemental analysis and spectral data and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction.