New routes to 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones and 3-imines

The reaction of readily available 3,4,5-trichloro-1,2-dithiolium chloride 1 and 4,5-dichloro-1,2-dithiole-3-thione 2 with o-substituted anilines provides a simple route to 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones and 3-imines, which can be cyclised to give new, more complex heterocyclic systems such as 1,2-dithiolo[4,3-b][1,4]benzoxazine of potential value in cancer chemotherapy