Dimerizations of nitrile oxides to furoxans are stepwise via dinitrosoalkene diradicals: a density functional theory study

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G* level on the dimerization reactions of acetonitrile oxide and para-chlorobenzonitrile oxide to form furoxans indicate that these processes are stepwise involving dinitrosoalkene intermediates that have considerable diradical character. The rate-determining steps for these two reactions correspond to C-C bond formation. The retardation of dimerization in aromatic nitrile oxides arises from the interruption of conjugation between the nitrile oxide and aryl groups in the C-C bond formation step. The present study also suggests that the isomerization of single-ring furoxans occurs via a diradical intermediate mechanism.     

Facile Synthesis of Sulfonyl Chlorides/Bromides from Sulfonyl Hydrazides

A simple and rapid method for efficient synthesis of sulfonyl chlorides/bromides from sulfonyl hydrazide with NXS (X = Cl or Br) and late-stage conversion to several other functional groups was described. A variety of nucleophiles could be engaged in this transformation, thus permitting the synthesis of complex sulfonamides and sulfonates. In most cases, these reactions are highly selective, simple, and clean, affording products at excellent yields.     

Hydrosulfonylation of Alkenes with Sulfonyl Chlorides under Visible Light Activation

Sulfonyl chlorides are inexpensive reactants extensively explored for functionalization, but never considered for radical hydrosulfonylation of alkenes. Herein, we report that tris(trimethylsilyl)silane is an ideal hydrogen atom donor enabling highly effective photoredox‐catalyzed hydrosulfonylation of electron‐deficient alkenes with sulfonyl chlorides. To increase the generality of this transformation, polarity‐reversal catalysis (PRC) was successfully implemented for alkenes bearing alkyl substituents. This late‐stage functionalization method tolerates a remarkably wide range of functional groups, is operationally simple, scalable, and allows access to building blocks which are important for medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.     

Electronic structure of the sulfonyl and phosphonyl groups: a computational and crystallographic study

A computational and X-ray crystallographic investigation of the electronic and geometric structures of a range of sulfonyl (-SO(2)-) and phosphonyl (-PO(2)--) containing species was undertaken to investigate the nature of valency and bonding in these functional groups. The traditional representation of sulfonyl and phosphonyl species is with octet-violating Lewis structures, which require d-orbital participation at the central atom. However, computational studies cast serious doubt upon this bonding model. In this work, we have employed NBO/NRT analysis to investigate hybridization, atomic formal charges, donor-acceptor interactions, and resonance structure contributions. Our results predict that within sulfonyl and phosphonyl systems, bonding interactions are highly polarized, of the form X+-Y- (X = P, S), and possess additional contributions from reciprocal n --> sigma* interactions where substituents off sulfur or phosphorus simultaneously act as donors and acceptors. Experimental evidence for the proposed bonding arrangement is provided for the sulfonyl functional group through a series of low-temperature X-ray structure correlations for sulfate monoesters, sulfamates, and methanesulfonates. Examination of changes to bond lengths and geometries upon substituent variation support the computational results. Together, our studies lend support for a bonding network in sulfonyl and phosphonyl groups composed of polar interactions augmented with reciprocal hyperconjugative bonding, which does not necessitate significant d-orbital participation nor formal octet violation at the central sulfur or phosphorus.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Ammonium Sulfinates from Aryl Halides and a Sulfur Dioxide Surrogate: A Gas‐ and Reductant‐Free Process

Sulfonyl‐derived functional groups populate a broad range of useful molecules and materials, and despite a variety of preparative methods being available, processes which introduce the most basic sulfonyl building block, sulfur dioxide, using catalytic methods, are rare. Described herein is a simple reaction system consisting of the sulfur dioxide surrogate DABSO, triethylamine, and a palladium(0) catalyst for effective convertion of a broad range of aryl and heteroaryl halides into the corresponding ammonium sulfinates. Key features of this gas‐ and reductant‐free reaction include the low loadings of palladium (1 mol %) and ligand (1.5 mol %) which can be employed, and the use of isopropyl alcohol as both a solvent and formal reductant. The ammonium sulfinate products are converted in situ into a variety of sulfonyl‐containing functional groups, including sulfones, sulfonyl chlorides, and sulfonamides.     

Organophosphorus‐Catalyzed Deoxygenation of Sulfonyl Chlorides: Electrophilic (Fluoroalkyl)sulfenylation by PIII/PV=O Redox Cycling

A method for electrophilic sulfenylation by organophosphorus‐catalyzed deoxygenative O‐atom transfer from sulfonyl chlorides is reported. This C?S bond‐forming reaction is catalyzed by a readily available small‐ring phosphine (phosphetane) in conjunction with a hydrosilane terminal reductant to afford a general entry to sulfenyl electrophiles, including valuable trifluoromethyl, perfluoroalkyl, and heteroaryl derivatives that are otherwise difficult to access. Mechanistic investigations indicate that the twofold deoxygenation of the sulfonyl substrate proceeds by the intervention of an off‐cycle resting state thiophosphonium ion. The catalytic method represents an operationally simple protocol using a stable phosphine oxide as a precatalyst and exhibits broad functional‐group tolerance.     

Synthesis of Furoxans (1,2,5‐oxadiazole 2‐oxides) from Styrenes and Nitrosonium Tetrafluoroborate in Non‐Acidic Media and Mechanistic Study

Diverse furoxans (1,2,5‐oxadiazole 2‐oxides) were synthesized from the corresponding styrenes using nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate as the nitrosation reagent in pyridine (basic media) or dichloromethane (neutral media). Acid‐sensitive functional groups were tolerated under these conditions. The probable reaction mechanism was elucidated. The experimental results support an ionic reaction pathway in contrast to the conventional acidic conditions with a radical mechanism.     

Reduction of the furoxan ring to the furazan ring in some carbonyl-substituted furoxans

It was shown that the furoxan ring is efficiently reduced to the furazan ring in carbonylsubstituted furoxans with other functional groups by the action of the SnCl₂-HC1-AcOH system.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 679–680, April, 1994.     

Destabilizing Predictive Copper-Catalyzed Click Reactions by Remote Interactions with a Zinc-Porphyrin Backbone

In order to obtain new supramolecular ligands that build up around a zinc-porphyrin scaffold, we envisioned to access sulfonyl triazole intermediates by well-known copper-catalyzed click reactions. Unexpectedly, these triazole intermediates do not form due to the presence of the zinc-porphyrin moiety at close proximity of the active copper species. Indeed, the copper catalyst undergoes a different chemo-selective reaction pathway reacting with traces of alcohols or water from the media that behave as effective nucleophiles leading to sulfonyl imidates or sulfonyl amides covalently connected to the zinc-porphyrin. We show that copper-catalyzed click reactions can follow different reaction mechanisms when the catalytic events occur at close proximity of a zinc-porphyrin unit which likely acts as a Lewis acid to stabilize otherwise inaccessible reaction intermediates.     

A General Proline‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 4,5‐Disubstituted N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐Triazoles from 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds and Sulfonyl Azide

An efficient proline‐catalyzed synthesis of 4,5‐disubstituted‐N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles has been accomplished from 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and sulfonyl azides. The developed reaction is suitable for various symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds, tolerates various functional groups and affords 4,5‐disubstituted‐N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles in good yield with excellent regioselectivity. Rhodium‐catalyzed denitrogenative functionalization of 4,5‐disubstituted‐N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles further demonstrates their utility in organic synthesis.     

Combining Organometallic Reagents,the Sulfur Dioxide Surrogate DABSO,and Amines: A One‐Pot Preparation of Sulfonamides,Amenable to Array Synthesis

We describe a method for the synthesis of sulfonamides through the combination of an organometallic reagent, a sulfur dioxide equivalent, and an aqueous solution of an amine under oxidative conditions (bleach). This simple reaction protocol avoids the need to employ sulfonyl chloride substrates, thus removing the limitation imposed by the commercial availability of these reagents. The resultant method allows access to new chemical space, and is also tolerant of the polar functional groups needed to impart favorable physiochemical properties required for medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry. The developed chemistry is employed in the synthesis of a targeted 70 compound array, prepared using automated methods. The array achieved a 93 % success rate for compounds prepared. Calculated molecular weights, lipophilicities, and polar surface areas are presented, demonstrating the utility of the method for delivering sulfonamides with drug‐like properties.     

Thermolysis of furoxans annulated with five-membered carbocycles in the presence of dipolarophiles

The conditions for the thermolysis of furoxans annulated with differently strained five-membered carbocycles (cyclopentafuroxan 1, norbornenofuroxan 2, and acenaphthofuroxan 3) to bis(nitrile oxides) in the presence of various dipolarophiles (diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, benzoylformonitrile, and ethoxycarbonylformonitrile) were optimized. It was found that the reactivities of the above furoxans as sources of bis(nitrile oxides) decrease in the order 2 > 1 > 3. Among the furoxans studied, only norbornenofuroxan 2 can be recommended as a possible cross-linking reagent for polymers. The formation of di-N-oxides of 3,4-bis(cyanopropyl)-, 3,4-bis(cyanocyclopentyl)-, and 3,4-bis(cyanonaphthyl)furoxans was detected. They resulted from intermolecular cyclodimerization of bis(nitrile oxides) initially formed in the thermolysis of furoxans 1–3. Dedicated to Academician V. A. Tartakovsky on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1521–1528, August, 2007.     

Combining Organometallic Reagents,the Sulfur Dioxide Surrogate DABSO,and Amines: A One‐Pot Preparation of Sulfonamides,Amenable to Array Synthesis

We describe a method for the synthesis of sulfonamides through the combination of an organometallic reagent, a sulfur dioxide equivalent, and an aqueous solution of an amine under oxidative conditions (bleach). This simple reaction protocol avoids the need to employ sulfonyl chloride substrates, thus removing the limitation imposed by the commercial availability of these reagents. The resultant method allows access to new chemical space, and is also tolerant of the polar functional groups needed to impart favorable physiochemical properties required for medicinal chemistry and agrochemistry. The developed chemistry is employed in the synthesis of a targeted 70 compound array, prepared using automated methods. The array achieved a 93 % success rate for compounds prepared. Calculated molecular weights, lipophilicities, and polar surface areas are presented, demonstrating the utility of the method for delivering sulfonamides with drug‐like properties.     

Photoredox-catalyzed aminofluorosulfonylation of unactivated olefins

The development of efficient approaches to access sulfonyl fluorides is of great significance because of the widespread applications of these structural motifs in many areas, among which the emerging sulfur(vi) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) click chemistry is the most prominent. Here, we report the first three-component aminofluorosulfonylation of unactivated olefins by merging photoredox-catalyzed proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) activation with radical relay processes. Various aliphatic sulfonyl fluorides featuring a privileged 5-membered heterocyclic core have been efficiently afforded under mild conditions with good functional group tolerance. The synthetic potential of the sulfonyl fluoride products has been examined by diverse transformations including SuFEx reactions and transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that amidyl radicals, alkyl radicals and sulfonyl radicals are involved in this difunctionalization transformation.

A three-component aminofluorosulfonylation of unactivated alkenes has been developed by merging photocatalytic PCET with radical relay processes, affording various aliphatic sulfonyl fluorides featuring medicinally privileged heterocyclic scaffolds.     

Efficient synthesis of chalcone-4′-sulfonyl chlorides and fluorides

A library of 4′-chloro- and 4′-fluorosulfonyl-substituted chalcones was prepared via the aldol-type condensation reactions of 4-acetylbenzene-1-sulfonyl halides with various aromatic aldehydes, either in absolute ethanol or glacial acetic acid, in the presence of dry HCl. This represents the first examples of chalcone sulfonyl halides in which the phenone ring bears one of these functional groups. The reactivity of the chalcone sulfonyl halides were strongly dependent on the styrene ring substituents; sulfonyl chlorides reacted with most nucleophiles (e.g. amines, alcohols), while sulfonyl fluorides reacted only with charged nucleophiles (e.g. phenolates).     

Copper-catalyzed hydrative amide synthesis with terminal alkyne, sulfonyl azide, and water

It is shown for the first time that N-sulfonyl amides can be efficiently prepared by an unconventional approach of the hydrative reaction between terminal alkynes, sulfonyl azides, and water in the presence of copper catalyst and amine base under very mild conditions. The present route is quite general, and a wide range of alkynes and sulfonyl azides are readily coupled catalytically with water to furnish amides in high yields. A variety of labile functional groups are tolerated under the conditions, and the reaction is regioselective in that only terminal alkynes react while double or internal triple bonds are intact. The reaction can be readily scaled up and is also adaptable to a solid-phase procedure with high efficiency.     

Selective formation of 1,5-substituted sulfonyl triazoles using acetylides and sulfonyl azides

The reaction of acetylides with sulfonyl azides was found to selectively form 1,5-substituted sulfonyl triazoles. This reaction thus provides access to the regioisomeric product as compared to the popular copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. The reaction is efficient and selective with a variety of alkyne sources and sulfonyl azides and can incorporate an additional electrophile to yield 1,4,5-trisubstituted sulfonyl triazoles.     

A notable conversion of a thiolacetate to its corresponding sulfonyl chloride

A direct conversion of a thiolacetate to its corresponding sulfonyl chloride in the presence of acid and base sensitive functional groups is described.     

Divergent reactivity of sulfinates with pyridinium salts based on one- versus two-electron pathways

One of the main goals of modern synthesis is to develop distinct reaction pathways from identical starting materials for the efficient synthesis of diverse compounds. Herein, we disclose the unique divergent reactivity of the combination sets of pyridinium salts and sulfinates to achieve sulfonative pyridylation of alkenes and direct C4-sulfonylation of pyridines by controlling the one- versus two-electron reaction manifolds for the selective formation of each product. Base-catalyzed cross-coupling between sulfinates and N-amidopyridinium salts led to the direct introduction of a sulfonyl group into the C4 position of pyridines. Remarkably, the reactivity of this set of compounds is completely altered upon exposure to visible light: electron donor–acceptor complexes of N-amidopyridinium salts and sulfinates are formed to enable access to sulfonyl radicals. In this catalyst-free radical pathway, both sulfonyl and pyridyl groups could be incorporated into alkenes via a three-component reaction, which provides facile access to a variety of β-pyridyl alkyl sulfones. These two reactions are orthogonal and complementary, achieving a broad substrate scope in a late-stage fashion under mild reaction conditions.

Divergent reactions of sulfinates with pyridinium salts were developed by controlling the one- versus two-electron reaction manifolds.     

One-pot synthesis of 3-(sulfonyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridines through a cascade Michael/cyclization reaction

In this paper, a straightforward and valid three-component Michael/cyclization reaction of (E)-1-methyl-3-(arylidene)piperidin-4-ones, 2-(sulfonyl)acetonitriles, and aromatic aldehydes was explored for the preparation of potentially biologically active 3-(sulfonyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridines under mild reaction conditions. More diverse 3-(sulfonyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridine derivatives were constructed in satisfactory yields (up to 97%). The chemical structure of newly synthesized 3-(sulfonyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-pyrano[3,2-c]pyridines were identified with ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectrometry analysis. The recommendable method features a simple and direct workup, easy access to initial materials, high atom utilization efficiency, high final product yields, and a wide range of substrate adaptability.