A New Synthetic Approach to 3-Amino-2-phenylthietanes as Potential Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

3-Amino-2-phenylthietane derivatives were considered as a useful tool to elusidate the mechanism of inhibiton of MAO by tranylcypromine-type inhitors. The synthesis of 3-benzoylamino-2-phenylthieetane, 3-amino-2-phenylthietane, and 3-N, N-dimentylamino-2-p-nitrophenythietane was attempted using the reaction between 1, 3 dihalogeno alkanes with alkali sulfide. When 1-pheny1-1, 3-dihalo-2-benzolaminopropane was treated with sodium sulfide, 2-pheny 1-4 benzylidene-2-oxazoline was isolated, indicating the case of elimination reaction compared to ring formation. The reaction of 1-p-nitropheny1-1, 3-dichloro-2-N, N-dimethylaminopropane with sodium sulfide gave bis (1-p-nitropheny1-2-N, N-dimethylamino-3-chloropropane)sulfide. The mechanism of reaction was discussed.