Reactions of methylenecyclopropanes with phenylsulfenyl chloride and phenylselenyl chloride.

The reaction of methylenecyclopropanes 1 with phenylsulfenyl chloride or phenylselenyl chloride gives (cyclobut-1-enylsulfanyl)benzene or (cyclobut-1-enylselanyl)benzene along with ring-opened product in good total yields at 0 degrees C in various solvents. A plausible mechanism has been proposed.