Sir: We wish to report a simple procedure for the preparation of 1,3-dienes which are substituted by phenylthio groups. Because of the great versatility of sulfur in organic com- pounds, the Diels-Alder adducts of these dienes should be of considerable value in synthesis. ... Our procedure consists of the copper(1)-induced removal2 of one or two thiophenol molecules from readily available diene precursors; eq 1-3 are given as examples.394 SPh dry HC1 I MeCH- ...
