The corresponding vinyl thioethers were synthesized by the interaction of calcium carbide with 4--butylbenzylthiol, 4-methoxybenzylthiol, and 1,4-mercaptobenzene in yields up to 92%. The reaction proceeds well both in the presence of bases and in the presence of basic salts alone. The resulting vinyl thioethers can be used to synthesize polymers with desired properties.
M.F. Savitsky (Wed,) studied this question.