Nickel Boride Mediated Cleavage of 1,3-Dithiolanes

Khurana and Magoo have reported a nickel boride-mediated reductive desulfurization of 1,3-dithiolanes to give the corresponding hydrocarbons in high yields. The reaction proceeded effectively when 1,3-dithiolanes with nickel(II) chloride and sodium borohydride were taken in 1:5:15 or 1:10:30 molar ratio in methanol/THF (4:1). The hydrogenolysis progressed under mild conditions such as room temperature and short reaction times, and does not require protection from the atmosphere.