Abstract The invention provides a process for preparing a thiol of formula I or a disulphide of formula II wherein R is aryl which may be substituted by alkyl, aralkyl or an electron releasing substituent, and R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl which may be substituted by alkyl, aralkyl or an electron releasing substituent, or R and R1 taken together represent an alkylene chain of from 4 to 7 carbon atoms which may be substituted by alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl, which process comprises treating an Alpha -amino nitrile of formula III wherein R and R1 are as defined above and R2 is alkyl or aralkyl, with hydrogen sulphide and if desired oxidising a thiol of formula I to a disulphide of formula II.
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is triethylamine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 when carried out in a solvent selected from pyridine and lutidine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a compound is used in which R is lower alkoxy phenyl or dilower alkoxyphenyl and in which R2 is a branched chain lower alkyl group with a secondary or tertiary carbon atom attached directly to the nitrogen atom of the amino group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, in which R2 is isopropyl or t-butyl.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, in which R is mono- or di-methoxy phenyl.