Abstract Electrolysis of alkyl arenedithioates 1 in acetonitrile with benzyl-triethyl-ammonium chloride as supporting electrolyte yields 5-aryl-4-cyano-3-methyl-isothiazoles 4. A reaction path is discussed according to which the dithioesters 1 are chlorinated at the anode and subsequently react with 3-iminobutyronitrile (6), generated at the cathode, to form the isothiazoles 4.
