Unusually high asymmetric induction in the pummerer reaction of opticaly active sulfoxides

The Pummerer reaction of optically active β-carbonyl substituted alkyl sulfoxides with acetic anhydride in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was found to be of highly stereoselective affording the corresponding α-acetoxysulfides with nearly 70% e.e.     

Mutual optical resolution of 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and alkyl aryl or dialkyl sulfoxides by complex formation

By complexation with optically active 2, 2′-dihydroxy-1, 1′-binaphthyl, alkyl aryl and dialkyl sulfoxides were resolved very efficiently. Reversely, by complexation with optically active alkyl aryl or dialkyl sulfoxides, 2, 2′- dihydoxy-l,l′-binaphthyl was resolved very efficiently, In all cases, 100% optically pure (+)- and (?)-enantiomers were obtained in good yields.     

The practical procedure for a preparation of 1-chloroalkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides in high optically active form: A very short synthesis of optically active disparlure

A chlorination of optically active alkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with N-chlorosuccinimide in dichloromethane in the presence of potassium carbonate afforded optically active 1-chloroalkyl p-tolyl sulfoxides in 87–94% ee (88–94% chemical yields). The optically active chloroalkyl sulfoxide was applied to a synthesis of optically active (+)-disparlure.     

Reaction of magnesium alkylidene carbenoids with lithium alpha-sulfonyl carbanions: a novel synthesis of tri- and tetra-substituted allenes from 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and sulfones

Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from ketones and chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, with ethylmagnesium chloride or isopropylmagnesium chloride at below -78 degrees C gave magnesium alkylidene carbenoids in about 90% yields. The reaction of the generated carbenoids with lithium alpha-sulfonyl carbanions was found to afford tri- and tetra-substituted allenes. Both cyclic ketones and acyclic ketones were useful in this procedure. However, the 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides derived from aldehydes gave only rearranged products, acetylenes, under the reaction conditions. The magnesium alkylidene carbenoid derived from an optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxide was treated with lithium alpha-carbanion of 1-naphthyl phenyl sulfone; however, the obtained allene was found to be racemic. The mechanism of this reaction is also discussed.     

Development of new synthetic methods with aryl 1-chlorovinyl sulfoxides

Aryl 1-chlorovinyl sulfoxides were easily synthesized from ketones and aldehydes with aryl chloromethyl sulfoxide in three-steps with high overall yields. Low-temperature treatment of the aryl 1-chlorovinyl sulfoxides with alkyllithium or a Grignard reagent gave alkylidene carbenoids via a sulfoxide-metal exchange reaction. From the alkylidene carbenoids, acetylenic compounds, tetra-substituted olefins, and allenes were synthesized. Enolization of alpha-chloro alpha-sulfinyl ketones, which were synthesized from methyl esters and chloromethyl phenyl sulfoxide, is another method for the generation of aryl 1-chloroalkyl sulfoxides. Treatment of 1-chlorovinyl phenyl sulfoxides so generated with t-BuLi followed by some nucleophiles having an acidic hydrogen gave one-carbon elongated carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Conjugate addition of some carbanions with 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides was found to have taken place. For example, reaction of 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with cyanomethyllithium gave high yields of cyclic enaminonitriles. Acidic treatment of the enaminonitriles afforded good yields of 4,4-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones. By using unsymmetrical ketones and optically pure chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, this procedure suggests a good method for an asymmetric synthesis of optically pure 4,4-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones. This method achieved an asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-alpha-cuparenone starting from methyl 4-methylphenyl ketone and (R)-(-)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide. A novel synthesis of 2,4,4-trisubstituted 2-cyclopentenones is also successful using cyanomethyllithium and its homologues. Conjugate addition of the lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate and its homologues gave high yields of the adduct, 3,3-disubstituted esters. Synthesis of various kinds of carboxylic acids and their derivatives and lactones was realized from the adducts.     

Highly regio- and stereoselective halohydroxylation reaction of 1,2-allenyl phenyl sulfoxides. Reaction scope,mechanism, and the corresponding pd- or ni-catalyzed selective coupling reactions

A highly regio- and stereoselective halohydroxylation of 1,2-allenyl sulfoxides with X(+) and water was developed. The reaction shows E-stereoselectivity. In the iodohydroxylation reaction, I(2) was used to introduce the iodine atom. For bromohalohydroxylation, CuBr(2), NBS, or Br(2) can be used. When using I(2), NBS, or Br(2), the addition of LiOAc.2H(2)O is necessary for high yields of the halohydroxylation products. The chlorohydroxylation reaction was preformed by milling 1,2-allenyl sulfoxides and CuCl(2).2H(2)O with silica gel. Under the catalysis of a Pd(0) complex, the halohydroxylation products, that is, E-2-halo-1-phenylsulfinyl-1-alken-3-ols, can undergo Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Negishi cross-coupling reactions leading to Z-2-substituted-1-phenylsulfonyl-1-alken-3-ols. The C-S bond of the coupling product may undergo a further coupling reaction with organozincs under the catalysis of an Ni catalyst. Here, the presence of a hydroxyl group is important for a smooth coupling involving the C-S bond. Thus, optically active stereodefined multisubstituted allylic alcohols can be prepared by the reaction of the easily available optically active propargylic alcohols with sulfinyl chloride followed by E-halohydroxylation and a selective Pd- or Ni-coupling reaction.     

Hydrotelluration and carbotelluration of acetylenic sulfoxides: regio- and stereoselective preparation of α- and β-organotellurovinyl sulfoxides

(Z)-β-Organotellurovinyl sulfoxides were synthesized via a highly regio- and stereoselective anti-hydrotelluration of acetylenic sulfoxides. α-Organotellurovinyl sulfoxides were obtained from a three component syn-carbotelluration reaction of acetylenic sulfoxides, that is, syn-addition of monoorganocopper reagents to acetylenic sulfoxides followed by the electrophilic reaction of the vinyl copper intermediates with benzenetellurenyl iodide at low temperature. Synthetic applications of the organotellurovinyl sulfoxides have been investigated.     

Stereoselective synthesis of isoindolinones and tert-butyl sulfoxides

A reaction of Grignard reagents with an optically pure N-sulfinylimine derived from methyl 2-formylbenzoate yields enantioenriched isoindolinones and tert-butyl sulfoxides. The products are formed by the addition of the nucleophile to N-sulfinylimine followed by cyclization to form N-tert-butylsulfinylisoindolinone, which readily undergoes substitution with a second equivalent of Grignard reagent. The reaction can be carried out in dichloromethane at room temperature or at elevated temperatures without any loss of stereoselectivity. The use of nucleophiles other than Grignard reagents has also been investigated.     

Chiral sulfoxides as neutral coordinate-organocatalysts in asymmetric allylation of N-acylhydrazones using allyltrichlorosilanes

Sulfoxides were first introduced to the allylation of N-acylhydrazones with allyltrichlorosilanes as effective neutral coordinate-organocatalysts (NCOs). Both high diastereo- and enantioselectivity were attained when optically active chiral sulfoxides were used. Asymmetric crotylations using (Z)- and (E)-crotyltrichlorosilanes showed a high level of stereospecificity (Z --> anti and E --> syn) with high enantioselectivity.     

SmI2-induced reductive cyclization of optically active β-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides with aldehyde

SmI₂-induced reductive cyclization of optically active (E)- and (Z)-β-alkoxyvinyl sulfoxides with aldehyde was developed for the construction of several stereoisomers of tetrahydropyran derivatives.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 4,4-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and cyanomethyllithium with formation of a quaternary chiral center

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides having two different substituents at the 2-position, which were synthesized from unsymmetrical ketones and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, with cyanomethyllithium gave optically active 2-amino-1-cyano-5,5-disubstituted-1,3-cyclopentadienes with very high asymmetric induction from the sulfoxide chiral center. The products were converted to the enantiomerically pure 4,4-disubstituted 2-cyclopentenones by heating with phosphoric acid in acetic acid.     

Asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of esters and γ-lactones from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and lithium ester enolates with the formation of a tertiary or a quaternary carbon stereogenic center at the β-position

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides having two different substituents at the 2-position, which were synthesized from aldehydes or unsymmetrical ketones and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in two or three steps, with the lithium enolate of tert-butyl acetate gave optically active adducts in 99% chiral induction from the sulfur stereogenic center. The adducts were converted to optically active esters, carboxylic acids, and γ-lactones, which have a tertiary or a quaternary carbon stereogenic center at the β-position. A synthesis of optically active spiro-lactones was realized starting from 2-cyclohexenone by this method.     

Additions of enantiopure alpha-sulfinyl carbanions to (S)-N-sulfinimines: asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino sulfoxides and beta-alphamino alcohols

The addition of the lithium anions derived from (R)- and (S)-methyl and -ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides to (S)-N-benzylidene-p-toluenesulfinamide provides an easy access route to enantiomerically pure beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides. Stereoselectivity can be achieved when the configurations at the sulfur atoms of the two reagents are opposite (matched pair), thus resulting in only one diastereoisomer, even for the case in which two new chiral centers are created. The N-sulfinyl group primarily controls the configuration of the carbon bonded to the nitrogen, whereas the configuration of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion seems to be responsible for the level of asymmetric induction, as well as for the configuration of the new stereogenic C-SO carbon in the reactions with ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides. An efficient method for transforming the obtained beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides into optically pure beta-amino alcohols, based on the stereoselective non-oxidative Pummerer reaction, is also reported.     

Studies on hydrozirconation of 1-alkynyl sulfoxides or sulfones and the application for the synthesis of stereodefined vinyl sulfoxides or sulfones

The hydrozirconation reaction of 1-alkynyl sulfoxides or sulfones with Cp2Zr(H)Cl in THF at room temperature predominantly gave Z-beta-zirconated vinyl sulfoxides or sulfones with excellent regioselectivity. Compared with 1-alkynyl sulfoxides, the hydrozirconation reaction of 1-alkynyl sulfones exhibits great synthetic potential, leading to the efficient preparation of Z-beta-halovinyl sulfones, Z-beta-sulfonyl alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones, and Z-beta-alkynyl vinyl sulfones. Although the reaction mechanisms are still not clear, the neighboring group participation of the sulfinyl or sulfonyl group may be playing an important role in this unique hydrozirconation reaction.     

cis-Carbocuperation of acetylenic sulfoxides and corresponding applications in the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted vinyl sulfoxides

cis-Carbocuperation reaction of monoorganocopper reagent with acetylenic sulfoxides, followed by electrophilic reaction with a variety of electrophiles, provided a regio- and stereoselective method to prepare the versatile polysubstituted vinyl sulfoxides. Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of the obtained α-iodovinyl sulfoxides with terminal acetylenes was also investigated to afford the versatile conjugate sulfinyl enynes.     

Preparation of optically pure propargylic and allylic alcohols from 2-(trimethylsilyl)vinyl sulfoxides as a chiral ethynyl anion synthon: computational studies on elimination reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyl)vinyl sulfoxides

The reaction of the alpha-carbanion derived from (trimethylsilyl)vinyl sulfoxides with aldehydes afforded a diastereomeric mixture of the products. Each diastereomer was subjected to specific elimination reactions to give optically pure propargylic, trimethylsilylated propargylic, and allylic alcohols. Acceleration of the sulfenic acid-elimination from the beta-silylvinyl sulfoxide was demonstrated by the ab initio calculation to be ascribed mainly to the beta-effect of the silyl group.     

A novel method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of α-substituted carboxylic acid derivatives from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and lithium ester enolates with 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from symmetrical ketones and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters gave optically active adducts having a substituent at the α-position with high 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center in high yields. The adducts were converted to optically active esters and carboxylic acids having a chiral center at the α-position. When this addition reaction was carried out with the ester enolate generated from excess carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester with LDA in the presence of HMPA, the diastereomer of the adduct was obtained. By using the two reaction conditions for the generation of the ester enolates, a new method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of carboxylic acid derivatives having a substituent at the α-position from the one chiral source, (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, was realized.     

Copper-catalyzed imination of sulfoxides and sulfides

Sulfoximines and sulfilimines have attracted considerable interest among organic chemists. The Cu(II)-catalyzed imination of sulfoxides and sulfides using various N-fluoro benzenesulfonamides was investigated in this study. The scope of the reaction was demonstrated by using several substituted sulfides and sulfoxides. The flow strategy for the preparation of NH-sulfoximines was also examined. By trapping nitrene intermediates through triphenylphosphine, we found that the reaction was conducted through a metal-nitrene intermediate mechanism.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Imidative Kinetic Resolution of Racemic Sulfoxides

Kinetic resolution of racemic sulfoxides requires either custom substrates or shows moderate enantioselectivity, leading to achiral coproducts (such as sulfones) as an intrinsic part of the process. A new strategy is demonstrated that allows the resolution of racemic sulfoxides through catalytic asymmetric nitrene‐transfer reactions. This approach gives rise to both optically active sulfoxides and highly enantioenriched sulfoximines. By using a chiral iron catalyst and a readily available iodinane reagent, high selectivity factors have been achieved under very practical reaction conditions. With respect to the substrate scope, it is noteworthy that this unprecedented imidative kinetic resolution of racemic sulfoxides provides access to both aryl–alkyl and dialkyl sulfoximines in highly enantioenriched forms.     

An asymmetric synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives,including lactic acid and α-amino acid derivatives,from optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides and ester lithium enolates with creation of chirality at the α-position

Treatment of optically active 1-chlorovinyl p-tolyl sulfoxides, which were synthesized from symmetrical ketones or methyl formate and (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in three steps, with lithium enolate of carboxylic acid tert-butyl esters gave optically active adducts having a substituent (alkyl, alkoxy, or dibenzylamino group) at the α-position with high 1,4-chiral induction from the sulfur chiral center. The adducts were converted to optically active esters, lactic acid, and α-amino acid derivatives having a chiral center at the α-position. When this addition reaction was carried out with an ester enolate generated from excess carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester with LDA in the presence of HMPA, the diastereomer of the adduct was obtained. By using the two reaction conditions for the generation of the ester enolate, a new method for asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of carboxylic acid derivatives having a substituent at the α-position from the one chiral source, (R)-(−)-chloromethyl p-tolyl sulfoxide, was achieved.