Synthesis of Dithioacetals through Iodine-Promoted Insertion Reactions of Vinylsilane to Disulfides and its Application to Diselenoacetalization

Described herein is an iodide-promoted insertion reaction of vinyltrimethylsilane into diaryl or dialkyl disulfides in the presence of iodine/KF leading to the production of a 1,1′-adduct, a dithioacetal derivative. This method also accomplishes insertion into a diaryl diselenide to afford the corresponding diselenoacetal derivative.