Abstract The reaction of the arenethiols 4a-b with formaldehyde and the sec-amines 5a-c gave the aminomethyl aryl sulfides 6a-d. The reaction of the hemimercaptals 3a-b with 5a in methanol gave 6a-b in high yield. In acetonitrile reaction media, 6b was obtained by the reaction of 3b with 5a which suggested that 7b was not an intermediate in the formation of 6b in methanolic media. The absence of 7b in methanolic media suggests that the ...
