A novel cycloaromatization reaction leading to substituted and annelated ethyl 2-hydroxy-6- (methylthio) benzoates 4 by condensation of a-oxo ketene dithioacetals with an excess of Reformatsky reagent from ethyl bromoacetate through intermediate dienes 3 has been described. The reaction has also been extended for the synthesis of substituted ethyl 3- hydroxy-5-(methylthio) stilbenecarboxylates 9 by using cinnamoyl ketene dithioacetals 8. ...
