Electrogenerated base-promoted synthesis and antimicrobial activity of 2-(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-2-arylacetonitrile and 2-(1,3-dithiolan-2-ylidene)-2-arylacetonitrile

The new preparation of 2-(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-2-arylacetonitrile and 2-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-2-arylacetonitrile is described. The electrogenerated cyanomethyl base/anion obtained from the electroreduction of acetonitrile promotes reactions between arylacetonitrile, carbon disulfide and 1-bromo-3-chloropropane or 1,2-dibromoethane. Obtained products have been identified according to their spectroscopic data (IR and ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR) and elemental analysis. The possible antibacterial activities of some of these compounds were investigated. Promising results were found against few types of bacteria.