A combined experimental and theoretical study of the alkylation of 3,5‐dithioxo‐[1,2,4]triazepines

The chemo‐ and regioselective alkylation reactions of 3,5‐dithioxo[1,2,4]triazepine 1 in a basic medium with α , ω ‐dibromoalkanes 2a – c , Br(CH 2 ) n Br ( n  = 1–3), are studied experimentally and theoretically. These alkylations, which occur at the thioxo sulfur atom in position 5, afford mainly 5‐bromomethylthio‐2,7‐dimethyl‐ 2,3‐dihydro‐ 4H[1,2,4]triazepin‐3‐one 3 for n  = 1, 6,8‐dimethyl‐5‐thioxo‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐6H[1,3]thiazolo[4,5‐d][1,2,4]triazepine 4 for n  = 2 and 7,9‐dimethyl‐6‐thioxo‐2,3,4,5,6,7‐hexahydro[1,3]thiazino [4,5‐d][1,2,4]triazepine 5 for n  = 3. Theoretical calculations have been carried out at the B3LYP/6‐31G* and B3LYP(benzene)/6‐311+G*//B3LYP/6‐31G* levels, in order to rationalize the experimental observations. Both chemo‐ and regio‐selectivities of the alkylation reactions are analyzed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.