Nucleophilic additions to N-glycosylnitrones part IV Asymmetric synthesis of N-hydroxy-α-aminophosphonic and α-aminophosphonic acids

The addition of phosphite anions and of tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite (P(OSiMe₃)₃) to N-glycosyl-C-arylnitrones was examined. While these nitrones proved inert towards the phosphite anions, they reacted with P(OSiMe₃)₃ under catalysis by Lewis acids. Thus, P(OSiMe₃)₃ reacted with the crystalline (Z)-N-glycosylnitrones 2 and 8 to give the optically active N-hydroxy-α-aminophosphonic acids 4 and 10 , respectively, and hence the α-aminophosphonic acids 5 and 11 in yields up to 92% and with an enantiomeric excess (e.e.) up to 97% (Scheme 1). The absolute configuration of the phosphonates depend upon the nature and – in one case – upon the quantity of the catalyst (Figure). Upon catalysis by HCIO₄ or Zn(OTF)₂, p(OSiMe₃)₃ added to 2 to give, in both cases, the (+)-(R)-phenylphosphaglycine 5 (optical purity 79–84 and 90–93%, resp.). The optical purity (o.p.) was hardly influenced by the amount of these catalysts (0.02-;1 equiv.). However, catalysis by ZnCl₂ gave, with trace quantities of the catalyst, (–)-(S)- 5 (o.p. 79%), while an equimolar amount of ZnCl₂ yielded (+)-(R)- 5 (o.p. 82%). The HClO₄-catalyzed addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to the nitrone 14 (Scheme 2) led to (+)-(R)-N-hydroxyphosphavaline 15 (78%) and hence to (–)-(R)-phosphavaline 16 (71% from 14 e.e. 95%). Under conditions leading from the nitrones 2 , 8 , 14 , and 20 (Schemes 1 and 2) predominantly to (R)-α-aminophosphonic acids, the addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to nitrone 18 , possessing a benzyloxy substituent as an additional potential ligand for the catalyst, gave (S)-phosphaserine 19 . The addition of P(OSiMe₃)₃ to the nitrone 20 , catalyzed by Zn(OTf)₂, led to (+)-(R)-N-hydroxyphosphamehionine 21 (71%, e.e. 77%) and hence to (–)-(R)-phosphamethionine 22 (77% from 20 , e.e. 79%). Catalysis by trace quantities of ZnCl₂ gave (+)-(S)- 22 (85%, e.e. 61%). The enantiomerically pure aminophosphonic acids 5 , 11 , and 16 were obtained by recrystalliztion. The e.e. of the N-hydroxyaminosphosphonic acids 10 , 15 , and 21 and the aminophosphonic acids 5 , 11 , 16 , and 22 were determined by the HPLC analysis of the dimethyl N-naphthoyl-α-aminophosphonats 7 , 13 , 17 , and 23 , on a chiral stationary phase.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Aminophosphonic Acids by Cycloaddition of N-Glycosyl-C-dialkoxyphosphonoylnitrones

Addition of dialkyl phosphites to the nitrone 6 , formed in situ from the oxime 5 and formaldehyde gave the hydroxylamines 7 (86%) and 8 (88%), which reacted with p-benzoquinone in the presence of ethylene via the C-dialkoxyphosphonoylnitrones 9 and 10 to yield the cycloaddition products 11 – 14 (80–85%) with a diastereoselectivity of about 50%. The cycloaddition products were transformed into the monoisopropylidene derivatives 15 – 18 and the diacetates 19 – 22 . Comparison of the NMR spectra and the specific rotations of the compounds 19 – 22 with those of the corresponding α-ammo-acid derivatives 23 – 26 of known configuration indicated preferential formation of the L -isomers. The cycloaddition products were transformed in good yield into the L -α-aminophosphonic acids 29 , 30 , 36 , and 39 .     

A Nonconcerted Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction of Chiral Allenic-Acid Derivatives

The reaction between the chiral allenic acid (+)-(S)- 1 and the carbodiimides 2a – d and the keten-imine 6 gives, under mild conditions, the tricyclic compounds 3 – 5 , 7 , and 8 . Low diastereoselectivity and a partial loss of optical activity are observed. A stepwise mechanistic pathway via a biradical intermediate is postulated.     

Ring-Enlargement and Ring-Opening Reactions of 1,2-Thiazetidin-3-one 1,1-Dioxides with Ammonia and Primary Amines as Nucleophiles

The N-benzyl- and N-alkyl-substituted 1,2-thiazetidin-3-one 1,1-dioxides 1b – d reacted readily with NH₃ and primary amines via ring opening. The reaction with NH₃ proceeded at −78°→room temperature yielding ring-opened adducts via nucleophilic attack of NH₃ at the sulfonyl group, whereas the reactions with amines at room temperature yielded products via attack at the carbonyl group. The N-unsubstituted analogue 1a , when reacted with benzylamine in refluxing EtOH, also gave a product of ring opening via nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl group of 1a . The transamidation-like reactions of the 2-(aminoalkyl)-1,2-thiazetidin-3-one 1,1-dioxides 19a – d proceeded via six-, seven-, and eight-membered intermediates, giving the ring-enlarged eight-, nine-, and ten-membered products 21 – 24 (Schemes 8 and 9), respectively, in 42 – 87% yields. The products resulted from the nucleophilic attack of the amino group of the side chain at the carbonyl C-atom. The structure of the eight-membered product 24 with an asymmetrically situated methyl substituent was established by X-ray crystallography.     

PREPARATION OF R-(+)-3,4-DIMETHOXYBENZYL 2-METHOXY-1-NAPHTHYL SULFOXIDE AND DIASTEREOSELECTIVE ADDITION OF LITHIATED ANION OF THIS REAGENT TO CYCLIC NITRONE. ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF OPTICAL PURE ISOQUINOLINE ALKALOIDS

Abstract

The addition of the lithium carbanion of (R)-(+)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl 2-methoxy-1-naphthyl sulfoxide 3 to cyclic nitrone 4, under kinetically controlled conditions gave isoquinoline sulfoxide derivatives 5 and 6 in high diastereoselectivities, Under equilibrium controlled conditions poor diastereoselectivity results. The chiral (R)-(+)-3,4-dimethoxybenzyl 2-methoxy-I -naphthyl sulfoxide 3 was easily prepared by the reaction of 3.4-dimethoxyben-zylmagnesium chloride 2 with (-)-(S)menthyl 2-methoxy-naphthalenesulfinate 1 in dry benzene. This methodology allows for the synthesis of the isoquinoline alkaloid (R)-(-)-norlaudanosine 8 in three efficient synthetic steps.     

Carbocyclen aus Monosacchariden. III. Zur Diastereoselektivität der Bildung von Cyclopentanderivaten. Umsetzungen in der Galactosereihe

Carbocycles from monosaccharides. III. Concerning the diastereoselective formation of cyclopentane derivatives. Transformations in the galactose series. The diastereoselectivity of the intramolecular nitrone-olefine cycloaddition of 1 , 3 and 4 (Scheme 1), yielding only 2 , 5 and 6 but none of the isomers 8 , 9 and 10 is explained by assuming a kinetic control and postulating that the relative activation energies of the two relevant transition states in the cyclization of e.g. 1 can be estimated from the conformers A and B , the latter being destabilized by a synperiplanar arrangement of the nitrone function and the 2-alkoxy-group (Scheme 2). It is further postulated, that this destabilization is responsible for the formation of (2,3)-trans configurated products. Since 2 , 5 and 6 are presumably thermodynamically more stable than 8 , 9 and 10 , a case was investigated, where the cycloaddition can either give thermodynamically less stable (2,3)-trans-product such as 12 or a thermodynamically more stable (2,3)-cis-product such as 13. 12 and 13 could both be formed from the aldehyde 25 via the nitrone 11 (Schemes 3 and 5). Treatment of the galactoside 16 first with Zn in aqueous butanol (forming among other products 25 and its 2-debenzyl-oxy-derivative) and then with N-Methyldroxylamine yielded the isoxazolidines 12 (72%), 13 (2%) and 27 (7%) (Schemes 4 and 6). Similarily, the anomeric silylated galactosides 17 and 23 gave 29 (78% from 17 , 77% from 23 ) and 27 (5% and 3%). Upon desilylation, 29 gave 32 , which was converted into 12 . The structure of the isoxazolidines was unambiguously deduced from their NMR. spectra and those of their derivatives 33 and 34 . Compound 32 was further transformed into its deoxyderivative 36 . The high diastereoselectivity of the cycloaddition restricts the number of diastereomeric, pentasubstituted cyclopentanes available by this method. However, cyclization of the 2-Hydroxy-aldehyde 37 (Scheme 8) gave the kinetically less favoured isomer 40 in a higher proportion, showing the differential influence of hydrogen-bonds on the relevant activation energies. Thermolysis of 32 gave 40 (79%) and 41 (11%). The structure of 41 was deduced from its NMR. spectra and those of its derivatives 42 and 43 . Thermolysis of 29 gave, after desilylation, 41 (42%), 40 (22%) and 32 (13%) and thermolysis of 6 lead to a 25 : 75 equilibrium with 44 (combined yield 90%). These transformations illustrate means leading to additional isomers and are in agreement with the proposed explanation of the diastereoselectivity in question.     

Stereo-controlled approach to pyrrolidine iminosugar C-glycosides and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol using a d-mannose-derived cyclic nitrone

Intramolecular N-alkylation of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-d-mannofuranose-oxime 7 afforded a five-membered cyclic nitrone 9, which on N–O bond reductive cleavage followed by deprotection of –OTBS and acetonide functionalities gave 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol (DIA) 3. Addition of allylmagnesium chloride to nitrone 9 afforded α-allylated product 10a in high diastereoselectivity providing an easy entry to N-hydroxy-C1-α-allyl-substituted pyrrolidine iminosugar 4a after removal of protecting group, while N–O bond reductive cleavage in 10a afforded C1-α-allyl-pyrrolidine iminosugar 4b.     

Synthesis of vinca alakaloids and realated compounds 98. Oxidation with dimethyldioxirane of compounds containing the aspidospermane and quebrachamine ring system. A simple synthesis of (7S,20S)‐(+)‐rhazidigenine and (2R,7S,20S)‐(+)‐rhazidine

The oxidation of (‐)‐tabersonine ( 1 ) with dimethyldioxirane (DMD) in neutral and acidic medium gave 16‐hydroxytabersonine‐N‐oxide ( 3 ) and the didehydrovincamine isomers 4 and 5 , respectively. (+)‐14,15‐Didehydro‐quebrachamine ( 7 ) furnished the hydroxyindolenine 9 , and the pentacyclic derivative 11 . (+)‐Quebrachamine ( 8 ) and DMD in neutral medium gave (7S,20S)‐(+)‐rhazidigenine ( 12 ) which was converted to (2R,7S,20S)‐(+)‐rhazidine ( 13b ) with hydrochloric acid.     

Enantioselective imine Michael reaction for the preparation of the (8′R,8a′S)-8,8a′-dimethyl-1′,3′,4′,7′,8′,8a′-hexahydrospiro[1,3-dioxolane-2,2′(6′H)naphthalen]-6′-one building block. A formal synthesis of (+)-valencenol

The enantioselective Michael addition of a chiral imine of 4-protected 2-methylcyclohexane-1,4-dione to phenyl crotonate led after cyclization to the corresponding bicyclic lactam. Reductive cleavage of the chiral moiety followed by saponification gave the corresponding keto-acid, which was cyclized to afford a lactone. Belleau–Fujimoto reaction of the lactone then led to the title building block (diastereoselectivity 96:4, e.e. >98%) in 11% overall yield from the starting dione. (8R,8aS)-(+)-8,8a-Dimethyl-3,4,6,7,8,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-2(1H)-one was obtained after reduction of the carbonyl group, acetylation, and reductive cleavage–deprotection (52% overall yield), representing a formal synthesis of (+)-valencenol.     

EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF (±)-1-(9-ANTHRYL)ETHYLAMINE

ABSTRACT

Conditions for efficient resolution of (±)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((±)-1) by fractional crystallization of its salts with (S)-(+)-mandelic acid (2) are reported. When crystallization was performed by fast addition of chloroform solution of an equivalent of (±)-1 to the hot chloroform solution of (+)-2, crystals of mandelate of (+)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((R,S)-3) are collected in 56% yield. (R)-(+)-1 (98.6% e.e.) is isolated by extraction from bicarbonate solution of mandelate salt. Ulterior collection of four crops afforded (R,S)-3 with 71.5% cumulative yield and >98% e.e. of (+)-1 in a any single crop. With only 0.5 equivalents of (+)-2 crystallization afforded (R,S)-3 in 47.4% yield and (+)-1 with 98.1% e.e.     

A Highly Convergent Total Synthesis of (+)-Myxovirescine M2. Preliminary Communication

The antibiotic myxovirescine M₂ was synthesized from seven building blocks ( 1 – 7 , Scheme 1), with the following chiral starting materials being employed: (S)-malic acid, (+)-D -ribonolactone, (S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)butanoate, and (2R,4S)-5-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylpenLanoate. Three new nucleophilic reagents, 8 – 10 , for C-C bond formation have been used. The key steps of the synthesis are: a Suzuki coupling between an alkyl borane and a vinyl bromide ( 4 + 12e → 13 ), a Julia olefinalion ( 14 + 17 → 18 ), and a Yamaguchi macrolactonizalion to form the 28-membered lactone ( 18 → 19 ), This extremely convergenl synthetic approach will allow the preparation of a number of the 31 known myxovirescine molecules.     

A Practical Synthesis of (2S, 3R)-3-Amino-2-methylpentanoic Acid from L-Aspartic Acid

L -Aspartic acid by successive N-tosylation, anhydride formation, and reduction was converted into (3S)-3-(tosylamino)butano-4-lactone ( 4 ). Electrophilic methylation of 4 , subsequent iodo-esterification and nucleophilic methylation, followed by saponification and deprotection, gave (2S, 3R)-3-amino-2-methylpentanoic acid ( 2 ) with an ee of > 99% in seven steps and in an overall yield of 34%.     

New approach to the enantiomerically pure 1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonates

The replacement of 2,3-O-cyclohexylidene-d-glyceraldehyde with (2R,5R,6R)-5,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2-carbaldehyde (Ley’s aldehyde) has led to significant improvements in the isolation of both diastereoisomers of the respective 2,3-O-BDA 1,2,3-trihydroxypropylphosphonates. The triethylamine-catalysed addition of dialkyl phosphites and lithium diethyl phosphonate gave the products in moderate (ca. 1:2) diastereoselectivity while the application of diethyl trimethylsilyl phosphite afforded a 1:9 mixture of diethyl (R)- and (S)-hydroxy-[(2R,5R,6R)-5,6-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxan-2-yl]methylphosphonates.     

Asymmetric synthesis of phosphonotrifluoroalanine and its derivatives using N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine derived from fluoral

Addition of dialkyl phosphites to (S)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine derived from fluoral afforded, under mild conditions, the corresponding N-tert-butanesulfinyl α-aminophosphonates in moderate to high yields and diastereoselectivity. The major diastereomers of N-tert-butanesulfinyl α-aminophosphonates of (S_S,S) configuration were isolated, and after partial or complete deprotection, converted into enantiomerically pure phosphonotrifluoroalanine and its dialkyl esters.     

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalysis by Quaternary Ammonium Ions Derived from Cinchona-Alkaloid Analogs Containing 1,1′-Binaphthalene Moieties

The synthesis and catalytic properties of a new type of enantioselective phase-transfer catalysts, incorporating both the quinuclidinemethanol fragment of Cinchona alkaloids and a 1,1′-binaphthalene moiety, are described. Catalyst (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 with the quinuclidine fragment attached to C(7′) in the major groove of the 1,1′-binaphthalene residue was predicted by computer modeling to be an efficient enantioselective catalyst for the unsymmetric alkylation of 6,7-dichloro-5-methoxy-2-phenylindanone ( 1 ; Scheme 1, Fig. 1). Its synthesis involved the selective oxidative cross-coupling of two differently substituted naphthalen-2-ols to afford the asymmetrically substituted 1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (±)- 17 in high yield (Scheme 3). Chromatographic optical resolution via formation of diastereoisomeric camphorsulfonyl esters and functional-group manipulation gave access to the 7-bromo-1,1′-binaphthalene derivative (−)-(aS)- 11 (Scheme 4). Nucleophilic addition of lithiated (−)-(aS)- 11 to the quinuclidine Weinreb amide (+)-(3R,4S,8R)- 8 afforded the two ketones (aS,3R,4S,8R)- 27 and (aS,3R,4S,8S)- 28 as an inseparable mixture of diastereoisomers (Scheme 6). Stereoselective reduction of this mixture with DIBAL-H (diisobutylaluminum hydride; preferred formation of the C(8)−C(9) erythro-pair of diastereoisomers with 18% de) or with NaBH₄ (preferred formation of the threo-pair of diastereoisomers with 50% de) afforded the four separable diastereoisomers (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 29 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 30 , (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 31 , and (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 32 (Scheme 6). A detailed conformational analysis, combining ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular-mechanics computations, revealed that the four diastereoisomers displayed distinctly different conformational preferences (Figs. 2 and 3). These novel Cinchona-alkaloid analogs were quaternized to give (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9S)- 5 , (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9R)- 6 , and (−)-(aS,3R,4S,8S,9R)- 7 (Scheme 7) which were tested as phase-transfer agents in the asymmetric allylation of phenylindanone 1 . Without any optimization work, (+)-(aS,3R,4S,8R,9S)- 4 was found to catalyze the allylation of 1 yielding the predicted enantiomer (+)-(S)- 3b in 32% ee. The three diastereoisomeric catalysts (+)- 5 , (+)- 6 , and (−)- 7 gave access to lower enantioselectivities (6 to 22% ee's), which could be rationalized by computer modeling (Fig. 4).     

EPC-Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinolines by Diastereoselective Alkylation at the 1-Position of Phenylalanine-Derived Precursors. Synthesis of the Alkaloid (+)-Corlumine

The 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-N-pivaloyl-isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acids 1d , 2d , and 3d , derived from (R)- or (S)-phenylalanine, (S)-dopa, and (S)-α-methyldopa, respectively, are doubly deprotonated with (tert-butyl)lithium in THF and alkylated at the 1-position (products 5 – 10 ). The major diastereoisomers formed are the result of electrophilic attack from the face opposite to the carboxylate group (rel. topicity ul-1,3). Even the addition to benzaldehyd (→ 7,8 ) is highly stereoselective (one of four diastereoisomers is formed exclusively (300-MHz ¹H-NMR analysis)), if MgBr₂ etherate is added prior to the electrophile. Some of the obtained amino-acid derivatives are decarboxylated by anodic oxidation in MeOH (→ 11 , 12 , 17 ) and NaBH₃CN reduction, and converted to the known 1-methyl- and 1-benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines ( 15 , 16 ) of > 95% ee as well as to the phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid (+)-corlumine of ≥80% ee. The synthetic approach described here is compared with other methods of synthesizing enantiomerically pure 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines (and thus an important group of alkaloids, Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of 1,2,5-Thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-Dioxide Derivatives and Evaluation of Their Affinity for MHC Class-II Proteins

1,2,5-Thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxide derivatives (±)- 1a – d and (±)- 2 were designed by molecular modeling as MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class-II inhibitors. They were prepared from the unsymmetrically N,N′-disubstituted acyclic sulfamides (±)- 4a – d (Scheme 1) and (±)- 11 (Scheme 2). These N-alkyl-N′-arylsulfamide precursors were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of either a sulfamoyl-chloride or a N-sulfamoyloxazolidinone. Extension of base-induced cyclization methods from aliphatic to aromatic sulfamides gave access to the desired target molecules. The N-alkyl-1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxide derivatives (±)- 3a – c were also prepared by the oxazolidinone route (Scheme 4) for coupling to a tetrapeptide fragment. The X-ray crystal structure of 1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxide (±)- 21a was solved, and the directionality of the H-bond donor (N−H) and acceptor (SO₂) groups of the cyclic scaffold determined (Figs. 1 and 2). The pK_a value of the N−H group in (±)- 21a was determined by ¹H-NMR titration as 11.9 (Fig. 3). Compounds (±)- 1a – d were shown to inhibit competition peptide binding to HLA-DR4 molecules in the single-digit millimolar concentration range.     

Über die Stereospezifität der α-Alkylierung von β-Hydroxycarbonsäureestern. Vorläufige Mitteilung

About the Stereospecific α-Alkylation of β-Hydroxyesters It was found, that dianions derived from β-hydroxyesters with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) at ?50 to ?20° were alkylated stereospecifically (Scheme 1). The stereospecificity was 95–98%, the threo-compound (threo -2, -3 and -4) being the main product. This was proved for threo -2 and -3 by preparing the β-lactones 7 and 8 , respectively, which were pyrolyzed to trans-1, 4-hexadiene (9) and trans-1-phenyl-2-butene (10) , respectively (Scheme 2). Moreover, the acid threo -6 from threo -3 was converted by dimethylformamide-dimethylacetal to cis-1-phenyl-2-butene (11) (s. footnote 6). The alkylation of α-monosubstituted β-hydroxyesters also turned out to be stereospecific. Reduction of 16 and 18 with actively fermenting yeast furnished (+) -17 and (+) -2. respectively (Scheme 4), which were each mixtures of the (2R, 3S)- and the (2S, 3S)-isomers. Alkylation of (+) -17 with allyl bromide yielded after chromatography (2S, 3S) -19 and of (+) -2 with methyl iodide (2R, 3S) -19 , the oxidation of which finally gave (S)-(?) -20 and (R)-(+) -20 , respectively.     

Enantioselektive Reaktionen an porphinoiden Nickelkomplexen

Enantioselective Reactions on Porphine Type Nickel Complexes The thermodynamically controlled addition of alcohols to (+)-(1R)-[1-methyl-8H-HDP]nickelperchlorate ( 1 ; e.e. 92%) yields exclusively the corresponding cis-1,11-disubstituted porphinoids. Chemical transformation of functional groups in the alkoxy side-chain of the chiral addition product followed by acid catalyzed elimination yields the derived alcohols and 1 . By this procedure, the following enantioselective transformations were studied: methylation of meso-2,3-butandiol ( 5 ) to (+)-(2R,3S)-3-methoxy-2-butanol ( 8a ; e.e. 87%), diimide reduction of 2-ethylallyl alcohol ( 9 ) to (+)-(2R)-2-methyl-1-butanol ( 12a ; e.e. 15%), and hydride reduction of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone ( 13 ) to (+)-(3S)-1,3-butandiol ( 16a ; e.e. 20%). Addition of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propandiol ( 17 ) to 4 , followed by esterification of the free hydroxy group with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and solvolysis of the sulfonate 19 yielded a bridged complex with unrearranged alkyl chain for which structure 20 is proposed.     

Regio- and Diastereoselectivity in the Thiomethylation of α-(1-Hydroxyalkyl)acrylate Derivatives

The regio-and diastereoselectivity of reactions of selected α-(1-hydroxyalkyl)acrylate derivatives with sodium methanethiolate have been investigated. The hydroxy compounds typically undergo conjugate addition with up to 66% d.e., while the acetoxy and bromo analogues favour S_N' and S_N reactions, respectively.