Synthesis of 2,3,4,7-tetrahydro[1,4]thiazepines from thiazolidines and β-enaminonitriles

A wide library of 2,3,4,7-tetrahydro[1,4]thiazepines have been prepared by simple heating of thiazolidine and β-enaminonitrile derivatives in acetonitrile. The procedure, whose yields depend on the nature and position of the substituents, gave good results if the substituents were not very bulky but it is less effective when starting from 2-substituted thiazolidines.