Synthesis of 4H-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-b]pyrroles through the reaction of benzoyl isothiocyanate and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of Ph3P

Benzoyl isothiocyanate reacts with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of triphenylphosphine in a mechanistically novel reaction to afford highly substituted dialkyl 2-(benzoylimino)-5-phenyl-4H-[1,3]dithiolo[4,5-b]pyrrole-4,6-dicarboxylates with double insertion of the isothiocyanate. The reaction proceeds via a carbon to nitrogen migration of an alkoxycarbonyl group.