A Theoretical Study of the [4 + 4] Dimerization of Thioformylketene

A theoretical study (B3LYP and G3MP2B3) of the dimerization of thioformylketene (1) was performed. Four pathwaystwo [4 + 2] pathways with thioformylketene (1), one [4 + 4] pathway with 1, and one [4 + 2] pathway involving 1 and thietone (11)were considered. Interestingly, the [4 + 4] pathway with 1 had the lowest barrier (3.8 kcal/mol). The geometry of the transition state TS14 is unusual, with the forming bonds in the plane of the ketene. This suggests that the reaction is pseudopericyclic.