Base-Induced Sulfoxide-Sulfenate Rearrangement of 2-Sulfinyl Dienes for the Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Enantioenriched Dienyl Diols.

The base-induced [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of a series of enantiopure 2-sulfinyl dienes has been examined and optimized using a combination of NaH and iPrOH. The reaction takes place by allylic deprotonation of the 2-sulfinyl diene to give a bis-allylic sulfoxide anion intermediate that after protonation undergoes sulfoxide-sulfenate rearrangement. Different substitution at the starting 2-sulfinyl dienes has allowed us to study the rearrangement finding that a terminal allylic alcohol is determinant to achieve complete regioselectivity and high enantioselectivities (90:10-95:5) with the sulfoxide as the only element of stereocontrol. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide an interpretation of these results.

Enantioselective Suzuki cross-coupling of 1,2-diboryl cyclopropanes.

Herein, we describe the catalytic enantioselective cross-coupling of 1,2-bisboronic esters. Prior work on group specific cross coupling is limited to the use of geminal bis-boronates. This desymmetrization provides a novel approach to prepare enantioenriched cyclopropyl boronates with three contiguous stereocenters, that could be further derivatized through selective functionalization of the carbon-boron bond. Our results suggest that transmetallation, which is the enantiodetermining step, takes place with retention of stereochemistry at carbon.

Diastereodivergent Synthesis of 2-Ene-1,4-hydroxy Sulfides from 2-Sulfinyl Dienes via Tandem Sulfa-Michael/Sulfoxide-Sulfenate Rearrangement.

The highly diastereoselective sulfa-Michael addition of thiolates to enantiopure 2-sulfinyl dienes leads to anti or syn 2-ene-1,4-hydroxy sulfides in good yields and selectivities dependent on the reaction conditions in a diastereodivergent process. Synthetic applications of these enantiopure hydroxy sulfides by subsequent sigmatropic rearrangements have been outlined.

From Allylic Sulfoxides to Allylic Sulfenates: Fifty Years of a Never-Ending [2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement.

The [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic sulfoxides to allylic sulfenates is a reversible process, generally shifted toward the sulfoxide. In the presence of thiophiles, the sulfenate is trapped, and allylic alcohols are obtained under mild conditions. In most cases, a good transfer of stereochemical information through an ordered transition state is obtained. Furthermore, the ease of coupling this process with other versatile, stereocontrolled reactions has enhanced the usefulness of this protocol. This review aims to provide a comprehensive survey of this rearrangement and its application in the synthesis of natural and bioactive products.

Chiral Sulfur Functional Groups as Definers of the Chirality at the Metal in Ir and Rh Half-Sandwich Complexes: A Combined CD/X-ray Study.

Mesoionic carbenes (MICs) derived from triazolium salts that contain chiral sulfoxide or sulfoximine functional groups were used to construct enantiopure chiral-at-metal IrIII and RhIII half-sandwich complexes through the synthetic sequence of MIC complexation/C-H aromatic activation. The process was efficient and diastereoselective for the formation of enantiopure five-membered metallacycles. The use of the enantiomers of the chiral sulfur groups allowed us to prepare complexes that had opposite configurations at the metal center. Complete retention of the configuration at the metal center was observed during the formation of cationic IrIII complexes and upon insertion of alkynes into the IrIII -C bond, as demonstrated by a combined circular dichroism/X-ray study. These results point to a vicinal-assisted SN 1-like mechanism.

Sulfur Groups Improve the Performance of Triazole- and Triazolium-Based Interaction Units in Anion Binding.

An NMR comparative study of 1,2,3-triazole and triazolium anion recognition units containing sulfoxide, sulfone, and sulfoximine groups at C4 unveils an enhancement in binding ability up to ≈1 kcal/mol in acetone-d6 correlated with a theoretical increase of H5 acidity. DFT calculations provide insight into binding modes in line with experimental data for these receptors.

Sulfinyl-Mediated Stereoselective Overman Rearrangements and Diels-Alder Cycloadditions.

Sulfinyl trichloroacetamides are readily obtained in excellent yields through a highly stereoselective Overman rearrangement. Related bis-allylic substrates lead to amido 2-sulfinyl butadiene derivatives in excellent yields, with total chemo- and diastereoselectivity. These amido dienyl sulfoxides undergo highly selective Diels-Alder cycloadditions with N-phenylmaleimide with remarkable stereocontrol by the sulfoxide moiety.

Remote stereocontrol in the synthesis of acyclic 1,4-diols and 1,4-aminoalcohols from 2-sulfinyl dienes.

The highly diastereoselective conjugate addition of alcohols and amines (RXH) to enantiopure 2-sulfinyl dienes renders transient allylic sulfoxides which undergo sulfoxide-sulfenate rearrangement and sulfenate cleavage providing 2-ene-1,4-diols and 2-ene-1,4-aminoalcohols with up to 99:1 dr. The method allows for the generation of two stereocenters in a single synthetic operation with remote chirality transfer of one center into the other.