Homologous S N V Reaction: Synthesis of l‐Methyl‐4‐[4′‐phenylsulfonyl‐1′,3′‐butadienyl]pyridinium Iodide and Its Reactivity with Thiol Groups Giving Rise to the Chromophoric Thioether

Thioether 4‐[(1′ E ,3′ E )‐4′‐phenylsulfanyl‐1,3′‐butadienyl]pyridine 8 and sulfone 4‐(4′‐phenylsulfonyl‐1′,3′‐butadienyl)pyridine 14 were prepared by reaction of the carbanions derived from allylic thioether or allylic sulfone with isonicotinaldehyde. The reaction with the sulfonyl carbanion occurred at the α position and on heating the alcolate gave the dienic sulfone 14 . The corresponding pyridinium iodide 10 and 15 were prepared by reaction with methyl iodide, respectively, on pyridine derivates 8 and 14 . The dienic pyridinium thioether 10 showed a long wavelength absorption band centered at 420 nm. The reaction of dienic pyridinium sulfone 15 with thiophenol gave the dienic pyridinium thioether 10 by a nucleophilic vinylic substitution. The reaction of sulfone 15 with glutathione was of second order and the rate constant was 8.5 M −1 s −1 at 30°C and pH 7, about 500 times smaller than the rate constant observed with ( E )‐1‐methyl‐4‐(2‐methylsulfonyl‐1‐ethenyl)pyridinium iodide 1 . The dienic pyridinium thioether 10 was a negative solvatochrome.