Alkylation of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols with haloalkanoic acid esters

Abstract

Alkylation of 4,5-disubstituted 4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols with methyl chloroformate and ethyl chloroacetate chemoselectively afforded the corresponding S-alkyl derivatives, whereas the alkylation of 5-benzyl-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol with methyl 3-bromopropanoate gave an inseparable mixture of S- and N-alkylation products. Hydrazinolysis of S-(5-benzyl-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl) methyl carbonothioate involved anomalous cleavage with formation of the initial 4,5-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazole and methyl hydrazinecarboxylate.