Synthesis of 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes and their interaction with acetonitrile and chalcogens.

Two new, more convenient methods for the synthesis of 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes are described. Four new 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes have been prepared using these methods: 1-(1-adamantyl)-3,4-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene (2a), 1-(1-adamantyl)-3-phenyl-4-(p-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene (2b), 1-(1-adamantyl)-3-phenyl-4-(alpha-naphthyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene (2c), and 1-(1-adamantyl)-3,4-di(p-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene (2d). The X-ray crystal structures of 2d and the precursor salt 1-(1-adamantyl)-3,4-di(p-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-triazolium bromide (1e) are described. Compound 2a reacts with CH(3)CN via C-H insertion to form 1-(1-adamantyl)-3,4-diphenyl-5-cyanomethyl-5H-1,2,4-triazoline (3), and 2a and 2d react with elemental sulfur and elemental selenium, respectively, to form the corresponding thione (4) and selenone (5).