An efficient synthetic procedure for substituted 2,3,6,7-tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3-b]thiopyran-4,5-diones by a double annulation strategy is described. The ring systems are made in good yields from readily available dialkenoylketene dithioacetals in the presence of either sodium sulfide nonahydrate/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or a sodium hydride/DMF/amine system.
amines - annulations - dialkenoylketene dithioacetals - sodium hydride - sodium sulfide