| Abstract: | Aryl 3- and 4-pyridyl sulfoxides undergo ligand exchange in reactions with aryl Grignard reagents to generate 3- and 4-pyridyl Grignard reagents, which, upon treatment with aldehydes or ketones, give the corresponding addition products in moderate-to-good yields. The mechanism for the exchange reaction was investigated by treating optically active 3- and 4-pyridyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with a phenyl Grignard reagent. Inversion of the configuration of the sulfur atom was the stereochemical result of the reactions. In the reactions of phenyl 2-pyridyl sulfoxide with Grignard reagents, the leaving ability of the 2-pyridyl group competes with that of the phenyl group. Both the experimental and MO calculated enthalpy values for deprotonation of α-, β-, and γ-protons of pyridine in the gas phase [1] are in accordance with the following order of the leaving abilities of aryl and pyridyl Grignard reagents: 4-PyMgBr > 3-PyMgBr » PhMgBr > p-TolMgBr > 2-PyMgBr. |
