Base-Promoted Cascade Multicomponent Access to Azatrithiathiophthenes from Cinnamonitriles, Sulfur and Active Methylhetarenes

A new approach for synthesizing polysulfa fused azatrithiathiophthene heterocycles was developed based on multiple C-H functionalization of diverse active methyl hetarenes and cinnamonitriles with elemental sulfur. This multicomponent reaction afforded a series of novel azatrithiathiophthenes bearing a tetravalent sulfur atom in the junction of two fused heterocycles.