Nucleophilic epoxidation of γ-alkoxy dienyl sulfoxide derivatives

(E,E) and (Z,E) γ-alkoxy dienyl sulfones undergo nucleophilic epoxidation with remarkable regio- and stereoselectivity to render syn oxiranes in a process mainly controlled by the alkoxy stereocenter. Upon epoxidation γ-hydroxy dienyl sulfoxides provide sulfinyl and sulfonyl oxiranes along with bis-epoxides formed through a Payne rearrangement that can be prevented by silylation of the OH group. Interestingly, the presence of a γ-silyloxy group can invert the stereochemical trend of the molecule affording mainly an anti epoxidation process.