Molecular transformations of unsaturated thiacrown ethers.

Unsaturated thiacrown ethers with 15, 18, and 21 members were oxidized to sulfoxides by the reaction with m-CPBA. The reaction with t-BuOCl at -20 degrees C also afforded sulfoxides, whereas the reaction at room temperature yielded cis-trans isomerized compounds. The cis-trans isomerized compound was also obtained by the photochemical reaction or by the reaction with NCS and NCP. Meanwhile, the reaction with NBS and NBP provided an acetal via 1,2-bridged bromonium intermediate.