Highly regio- and stereoselective PdCl2(MeCN)2-catalyzed cross coupling of 1,2-allenylic sulfoxides with allyl bromide

2-Allyl-1(E),3(E)-dienyl sulfoxides were prepared highly stereoselectively via the PdCl₂(MeCN)₂-catalyzed coupling reaction of 1,2-allenylic sulfoxides and allyl bromide. A rationale was proposed for this transformation.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-amino alcohols from amino acids mediated by sulfoxides

Enantiomerically pure (R₁,S₂)- and (S₁,S₂)-2-amino alcohols can be easily synthesized by stereodivergent reduction of α′-(N-Boc)amino β-keto sulfoxides (easily synthesized from readily available N-Boc amino ester hydrochlorides) with DIBAH (de 82–92%) and DIBAH/ZnBr₂ (de 80%), followed by hydrogenolysis of the C–S bond of the resulting hydroxy sulfoxides and final hydrolysis of the N-Boc protecting group.     

Sulfoxides derived from Cinchona alkaloids—chiral ligands in palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

Phenyl sulfides derived from Cinchona alkaloids, 9-PhS-epi-CD, 9-PhS-epi-QN, 9-PhS-epi-QD, and 9-PhS-QN were oxidized into the corresponding sulfoxides. Regardless of the oxidation system used (NaIO₄, TEMPO/NaOCl, VO(acac)₂/chiral Schiff base/H₂O₂) a similar stereochemical outcome of the oxidation was observed. Four pure epimers of sulfoxides 9-PhSO-epi-CD and 9-PhSO-epi-QN were isolated and fully characterized (X-ray, CD, ¹H NMR-pattern). The chiral sulfoxides as well as the corresponding sulfides and sulfones were tested in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of dimethyl malonate with rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate. The sulfoxides obtained from Cinchona alkaloids bearing the additional stereogenic center gave the main product of configuration dependent on the chirality of alkaloid framework only. Similar ees (up to 60%) but significantly higher yields (90%) were obtained as compared to the reaction with the corresponding thioethers. The results were in agreement with nucleophilic attack directed at the allylic carbon located trans to the sulfur atom in the M-shaped intermediate η³-allylpalladium complex.     

Sulfoxide-controlled SN2′ displacements between cuprates and vinyl and alkynyl epoxy sulfoxides

The S_N2′ displacement of readily available vinyl epoxy sulfoxides with organocopper reagents takes place in good yields with high anti selectivity and a good degree of E/Z stereocontrol to produce enantiopure α-hydroxy vinyl sulfoxides. A second allylic displacement on the related mesyloxy vinyl sulfoxides allows for the asymmetric construction of two adjacent chiral centers. In addition, cuprate mediated S_N2′ addition to alkynyl epoxy sulfoxides affords α-hydroxy allenyl sulfoxides in good yields.     

Etude de la structure de carbanions en α du soufre

Carbanions α to sulfoxides and sulfones C₆H₅S(O)nCH₂M (n  1, 2; M  Li or K) have been studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. A strong increase of the force constant of the SCH₂M bond, and a similar decrease of that of the SO bond(s) are observed. This implies that the negative charge is delocalized over the carbon and oxygen atoms. ¹H NMR shows that carbanions α to sulfoxides are configurationally stable at low temperature. The interconversion energy depends on the polarizing ability of the counter-ion (Li⁺: ΔG

13.6 kcal mol^-1; K⁺: ΔG

10.7 kcal mol^-1). The coupling constant of the methylenic hydrogens (J_AB 2 Hz) confirms the nearly planar configuration of the anionic carbon in the α metallated sulfoxides.     

S-Oxidation products of (+)-thiomicamine-derived oxazolines—promising substrates in the synthesis of alkyl methyl sulfoxides

Highly stereoselective oxidation of the 4-methylthio substituent in oxazolines 2–4, derived from (+)-thiomicamine 1, performed using the Kagan procedure and with the vanadium/chiral salen catalytic system, afforded R_S and S_S diastereomeric sulfoxides 5–7, respectively. The reaction of sulfoxide R_S-6 with n-butyl- and tert-butyllithium reagents produced the corresponding butyl methyl sulfoxides in high enantiomeric excess and with an (S) absolute configuration, albeit in moderate yields.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-acetylenic epoxides

Chiral α-acetylenic oxiranes were easily synthesized from readily available propargylic esters by a four-step sequence involving the stereoselective reduction of α′-alkynyl β-keto sulfoxides with DIBAH (de 66–78%) and DIBAH/ZnBr₂ (de 78–88%), followed by further reduction of the resulting hydroxy sulfoxides into the corresponding sulfenyl derivatives and final epoxy ring closure via sulfonium salt.     

A novel tridentate Schiff base dioxo-molybdenum(VI) complex: Synthesis,crystal structure and catalytic performance in green oxidation of sulfides by urea hydrogen peroxide

A new dioxo-molybdenum(VI) complex [MoO₂(L)(CH₃OH)] has been synthesized, using 2-[(2-hydroxypropylimino)methyl]phenol as tridentate ONO donor Schiff base ligand (H₂L) and MoO₂(acac)₂. A monoclinic space group P2₁/c was determined by X-ray crystallography from single-crystal data of this complex. The high catalytic activity of this new Schiff base complex has been observed in the oxidation of various sulfides by urea hydrogen peroxide in ethanol affording sulfoxides and sulfones using different molar ratio of oxidant/sulfide in high/excellent yields and selectivity under mild and eco-friendly conditions. The relative high stability and desired turnover numbers have been observed for this Mo-catalyst in the oxidation reactions.     

Facile and Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides by t-Butyl Hydroperoxide in Aqueous Medium

The oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with TBHP in water only occurs selectively with high yields and permits the sulfoxides to be prepared without using organic solvents. When the reaction is performed in aqueous sulfuric acid with a H₂SO₄/sulfide molar ratio of 20/1, the oxidation rate is greatly increased.     

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides with the system silane/MoO2Cl2

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides using a silane and a catalytic amount of MoO₂Cl₂ in excellent yields and with a wide functional group tolerance is reported. A green protocol for this reaction was developed in water with the air-stable catalytic system PMHS/MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of 7-hydroxy- and 7-acetoxy-PGI2: New stable PGI2 analogues

Stable analogues of PGI₂, 7-hydroxy- and 7-acetoxy-PGI₂, were synthesized from protected PGI₂ methyl ester $\text{1b}$via sulfoxides $\text{6a}$, $\text{6b}$ through stereocontrolled sulfoxide-sulfenate rearrangement.     

Inclusion compounds of l,d-dipeptide with small sulfoxides: flexible sheet structure of (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine

A heterochiral l,d-dipeptide, (S)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine (SR-1), formed inclusion compounds with some small dialkyl sulfoxides. By their single-crystal X-ray analyses, we observed monolayer structures, where SR-1 molecules are arranged in parallel to construct a wavy sheet. The sulfoxides were accommodated in a channel cavity between the monolayers of SR-1 by hydrogen bonding with ⁺NH₃ of SR-1. Notably, the sheet of SR-1 is so flexible to change its wavy degree in response to the volume of the included sulfoxides. Furthermore, we could analyze the structure of crystalline SR-1 without any sulfoxide, which has a bilayer structure.     

Biocatalytic and chemical routes to all the stereoisomers of methionine and ethionine sulfoxides

Biotransformations of the N-phthaloyl derivatives of d- and l-methionine and of d- and l-ethionine by Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 or Beauveria caledonica ATCC 64970 produce the corresponding (S_S) sulfoxides in good yield and diastereomeric excess. Pure (S_SS_C) diastereomers can be obtained from l-series substrates by crystallisation of the biotransformation extract, and the corresponding (S_SR_C) products obtained from d-series substrates by chromatography of the biotransformation extract. Hydrogen peroxide-catalysed oxidation of the N-phthaloyl derivatives of d- and l-methionine and of d- and l-ethionine gives diastereomeric mixtures from which the (S_SS_C) and (R_SR_C) diastereomers can be obtained by crystallisation, and the (S_SR_C) and (R_SS_C) diastereomers obtained by chromatography. N-Cbz- and N-t-Boc methionines are also converted to sulfoxides with predominant (S_S) configuration by both B. bassiana and B. caledonica, but the isolated yields and d.e. of products were generally lower than those obtained from the N-phthaloyl substrates.Removal of the N-phthaloyl group from diastereomerically pure methionine and ethionine sulfoxides gave the corresponding amino acid sulfoxides in high yield; removal of N-Cbz and N-t-Boc groups from protected methionine sulfoxides was also achieved without loss of configuration at sulfur.     

Metal-free imination of sulfoxides and sulfides

Using a nitrogen transfer agent obtained in situ by mixing of NsNH₂ and PhI(OAc)₂, various N-nosyl sulfoximines and N-nosyl sulfilimines have been prepared under metal-free conditions starting from the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfides, respectively.     

Synthesis of cis-3-hydroxypipecolic acid via SmI2-mediated cyclization of aldehydo β-aminovinyl sulfoxides

Stereoselective synthesis of cis-3-hydroxypipecolic acid was achieved via chirality transfer in the SmI₂-mediated cyclization reactions of aldehydo β-aminovinyl sulfoxides.     

Fast and selective oxidation of thioglycosides to glycosyl sulfoxides using KF/m-CPBA

A very fast and selective oxidation of thioglycosides to glycosyl sulfoxides has been achieved using KF/m-CPBA in CH₃CN-H₂O. This protocol has many advantages compared to the currently available methodologies for this transformation in terms of selectivity, yield, reaction time, control of temperature, etc. The yields obtained were excellent in all cases.     

The determination of sulfoxide configuration in five-membered rings using NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Cyclic five-membered ring sulfoxides and sulfones were prepared by a stepwise in situ oxidation of the corresponding sulfides with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid in an NMR tube. The oxidation was followed by NMR and both ¹H and ¹³C NMR data were collected. The geometries of all of the compounds were optimized using the DFT B3LYP/6-31G⁷ method and the ¹³C and ¹H chemical shifts were calculated for geometry-optimized structures with the DFT B3LYP/6-31++G⁷ method. The calculated ¹³C chemical shifts induced by oxidation (Δδ values) were in very good agreement with the experimental data and could be used to determine the oxidation state of the sulfur atom (–S–, –SO–, –SO₂–). The characteristic differences of the induced oxidation chemical shifts of the carbon atoms in the α-position and β-position to sulfur were successfully used to distinguish between the diastereoisomeric sulfoxides and allowed configuration determination.     

The Stereospecific Tert-Butyllithium Reduction of Triene Sulfoxides: Improved Levels of Deuterium Incorporation

Treatment of triene sulfoxides with t-BuLi and methanol-O-d₁ in D₂O-wet ether leads to trienes with practical levels (96%) of deuterium incorporation. Alternatively, successive treatment of triene sulfoxides dwith CH₃Li and then t-BuLi followed by methanol-O-d₁ quench affords similar levels of label incorporation.     

N,N-Ethylene-bridged flavinium salts derived from l-valinol: synthesis and catalytic activity in H2O2 oxidations

Three chiral N¹,N¹⁰-ethylene-bridged flavinium salts with a stereogenic centre derived from l-valinol are prepared and investigated as oxidation catalysts. These salts efficiently catalyse chemoselective H₂O₂ oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and the oxidation of 3-phenylcyclobutanone to the corresponding lactone at room temperature. The flavinium salts react with hydrogen peroxide to form flavin-10a-hydroperoxide, which is the agent responsible for oxidation of the substrate.     

Lewis acid-promoted electron transfer deoxygenation of epoxides, sulfoxides, and amine N-oxides: the role of low-valent niobium complexes from NbCl5 and Zn

A mild and operationally simple deoxygenation of epoxides, sulfoxides, and amine N-oxides is described using a sub-stoichiometric amount of low-valent niobium complexes generated in situ from commercially available NbCl₅ and zinc dust. The deoxygenation proceeds by a reductive cleavage of polarized O-C/O-N/O-S bonds through a single electron transfer from zinc metal to the niobium-substrate complex due to the high oxophilic nature of the niobium species. The presence of adjacent radical-stabilizing groups is beneficial to epoxide substrates; however the similar prerequisite does not apply to sulfoxides and amine N-oxides, where a broad range of substrates are efficiently deoxygenated in excellent yields.