Process for preparing thiosulfenamide derivatives of N-phosphonomethylglycine triesters

Claim 1

A process for preparing a compound of the formula ##STR5## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, biphenylyl; or phenyl, naphthyl or biphenylyl substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents, independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkylthio, lower alkoxycarbonyl, methylenedioxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano, nitro and halogen; and R 1 is independently alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralower alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl or phenyl or naphthyl substituted with from 1 to 3 substituents independently selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl and nitro, and R 2 is lower alkyl or aralower alkyl which comprises reacting a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein R and R 2 are as aforedefined with SCl 2 aprotic solvent and in the presence of a hydrogen chloride acceptor to form a compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein R and R 2 are as above defined, and reacting said compound of formula (III) with a compound of the formula R.sub.1 SH (IV) to form said compound of formula (I) and in the presence of a hydrogen chloride acceptor.