DITHIETANES

1367862 Imino dithietanes AMERICAN CYANAMID CO 12 Jan 1973 [10 Feb 1972] 1838/73 Heading C2C [Also in Division A5] The invention comprises compounds of the formula where X, Y and Z are each H, halogen, hydroxy, R(M) n , phenoxy, monohalophenoxy, nitro, trihalomethyl, cyano, isothiocyano, carbo (C 1 -C 8 )- alkoxy, mono (C 1 -C 4 )-alkylamino, di (C 1 -C 4 )- alkyl amino or 1,3-dithietanylidene amino, R is C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 5 -C 7 cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 alkenyl or C 3 -C 8 alkynyl, M is sulphur or oxygen, n is 0 or 1, and when two of X, Y and Z are taken together on adjacent carbon atoms they may form a benzo group, with the proviso that X, Y and Z cannot each be hydrogen, and that when one of X, Y and Z is halogen or (C 1 -C 8 )alkyl, at least one of the remaining substituents of X, Y and Z is other than hydrogen. The compounds are prepared by reacting together compounds of the formula and CH 2 Q 2 where M(+) is a cation and Q is a leaving group such as halogen.