Unexpected rearrangement during the gas-phase dehalogenation approach to benzodithiophenes†
Abstract
A range of halogenated methylthiophenes undergo dehalogenative condensation upon FVP over magnesium or calcium to give products including benzodithiophenes; in some cases this involves a novel rearrangement by equilibration of alkenylthienyl radicals via thiophene-fused cyclopropylmethyl intermediates.