Thietane is a heterocyclic compound containing a saturated four-membered ring with three carbon atoms and one sulfur atom.[1][2]

Thietane, and its derivative 2-propylthietane, are strong-smelling mouse alarm pheromones and predator scent analogues.[3][4] Both the mouse and human olfactory receptors MOR244-3 and OR2T11, respectively, were found to respond to thietane in the presence of copper.[5]

Synthesis

Thietane can be produced from the reaction of trimethylene carbonate and potassium thiocyanate, but the yield is low.[6]

An improved synthesis method is the reaction of 1,3-dibromopropane and sodium sulfide.[7]

Reactions

Nucleophiles like butyllithium can open the ring in thietane.[8] Thietane also reacts with bromine.[9]

References

  1. ^ Leśniak, S; Lewkowski, J; Kudelska, W; Zając, A (2008). "Thietanes and Thietes: Monocyclic". Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III. 2 (7): 389–428. doi:10.1016/B978-008044992-0.00207-8.
  2. ^ Block, E; DeWang, M (1996). "Thietanes and Thietes: Monocyclic". Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry II. 1 (24): 773–802. doi:10.1016/B978-008096518-5.00024-1.
  3. ^ Sievert, Thorbjörn; Laska, Matthias (2016). "Behavioral responses of CD-1 mice to six predator odor components". Chem. Senses. 41 (5): 399–406. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjw015. PMID 26892309.
  4. ^ Brechbuhl, J; Moine, F; Klaey, M; Nenniger-Tosato, M; Hurni, N; Sporkert, F; Giroud, C; Broillet, MC (2013). "Mouse alarm pheromone shares structural similarity with predator scents". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 110 (12): 4762–4767. Bibcode:2013PNAS..110.4762B. doi:10.1073/pnas.1214249110. PMC 3607058. PMID 23487748.
  5. ^ Li, Shengju; Ahmed, Lucky; Zhang, Ruina; Pan, Yi; Matsunami, Hiroaki; Burger, Jessica L; Block, Eric; Batista, Victor S; Zhuang, Hanyi (2016). "Smelling sulfur: Copper and silver regulate the response of human odorant receptor OR2T11 to low molecular weight thiols". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 138 (40): 13281–13288. doi:10.1021/jacs.6b06983. PMID 27659093.
  6. ^ Searles, Scott; Lutz, Eugene F. (1958). "A New Synthesis of Small Ring Cyclic Sulfides". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 80 (12): 3168. doi:10.1021/ja01545a071. ISSN 0002-7863.
  7. ^ Nagasawa, Kazuo; Yoneta, Akemi (1985). "Organosulfur chemistry. II. Use of dimethyl sulfoxide; A facile synthesis of cyclic sulfides". Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 33 (11): 5048–5052. doi:10.1248/cpb.33.5048. ISSN 0009-2363.
  8. ^ Bordwell, F. G.; Andersen, Harry M.; Pitt, Burnett M. (1954). "The Reaction of Thiacyclopropanes (Olefin Sulfides) and Thiacyclobutanes with Organolithium Compounds". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 76 (4): 1082–1085. doi:10.1021/ja01633a045. ISSN 0002-7863.
  9. ^ Stewart, John M.; Burnside, Charles H. (1953). "Reactions of Trimethylene Sulfide with Chlorine and Bromine". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 75 (1): 243–244. doi:10.1021/ja01097a517. ISSN 0002-7863.