Abnormally mild synthesis of bis(dithiolo)pyrroles from 2,5-dimethylpyrroles

Treatment of A substituted 2,5-dimethylpyrroles 2 with an equilibrated mixture of disulfur dichloride and DABCO in chloroform at 0 degrees C gives pentathiepinopyrroles 3 in moderate yields; further reaction of 3 with the same mixture at room temperature leads, in an extensive reaction cascade, to bis(dithiolo)pyrroles 4 in high yield; 2 can be converted into 4 in a one-pot operation under unusually mild conditions.