Synthesis of Thiochroman 1,1-Dioxide Derivatives on the Basis of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

Treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with β-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters and subsequent oxidation gave 2-(alkoxycarbonyl-R-methylsulfonyl)-4-X-6-nitrotoluenes which were brought into Knoevenagel condensation with aromatic aldehydes (heating in benzene in the presence of secondary amine acetates). As a result of intramolecular cyclization, 2-alkoxycarbonyl-3-aryl-2-R-5-X-7-nitrothiochroman 1,1-dioxides (R = H, Me; X = NO2, R'SO2) were obtained. The developed procedure opens the way to hitherto unknown thiochroman 1,1-dioxide derivatives.