N-Bromosuccinimide-dimercaptoethane cobromination of alkenes: synthesis of β,β′-dibromodithioethers

Alkenes react in diethyl ether with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and dimercaptoethane to afford the corresponding β,β′-dibromodithioethers. Bromine and dimercaptoethane are added to the aliphatic terminal olefins in an anti-Markovnikov fashion.