Tetrahydropyridines and furans from the reaction of 4-t-butylpyridine 1-oxide witht-butyl and 1-adamantyl mercaptan

The reaction of 4-t-butylpyridine 1-oxide (1) with t-butyl or 1-adamantyl mercaptan in acetic anhydride yielded the expected 2- and 3-alkylthio-4-t-butylpyridines and 1-acetyl-2,6-bis-(alkylthio)-3-acetoxy-4-t-butyl- and the unexpected 1-acetyl-2-acetoxy-3,6-bis(alkylthio-4-t-butyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines. The addition of t-butyl mercaptan to a solution of 1 in acetic anhydride containing triethylamine produced the expected 1-acetyl-2-t-dmtylthio-3-acetoxy-4-t-butyl-6-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine (6a) and the unexpected 1-acetyl-2,6-bis(hydroxy)-3-t-butylthio-4-t-butyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of 6a yielded predominantly 2-[(acetamido) (t-butylthio)methyl]-3-t-butyl-5-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran. The latter was converted by very mild acidic reagents to the corresponding furan and with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and sulfuric acid furnished 3-t-butylfurfural 2,4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazone.