The emergence of sulfoxides as efficient ligands in transition metal catalysis

Ruthenium(II) complexes with phosphonate-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands: synthesis, characterization and use in organic photocatalysis

Ru(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands play a central role in the development of photocatalytic organic reactions. This work is aimed at the structural modification of such complexes to increase their...

Advances of Sulfenate Anions in Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Sulfoxides

In recent years, sulfenate anions as key intermediates in enantioselective synthesis have attracted considerable attention. Typically, development of novel synthetic methods to generate sulfenate anions allows for the preparation of various enantiopure sulfoxides, which are prevalently used as auxiliaries, ligands, organocatalysts, and biologically active compounds. This review presents the in situ preparation methods and the recent applications of sulfenate anions in catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfoxides.

Direct Synthesis of Sulfinylated Benzofulvenes via BF3·Et2O-Promoted Cascade Reactions of Arylsulfinic Acids with 1,3-Enynes

A novel and efficient method for the selective synthesis of sulfinylated benzofulvenes has been developed through the BF₃·Et₂O-promoted electrophilic addition/cyclization of 1,3-enynes. This metal-free cascade reaction employs readily accessible arylsulfinic acids as sulfinyl cation sources at room temperature and provides a wide range of functionalized benzofulvenes in good to excellent yields under mild conditions.

The Ligand Free Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Regioselective 1,2-Addition of Enol Silanes to Quinones to Access 4-Hydroxy-4-(2-oxo-2-arylethyl)cyclohexadien-1-ones and Synthetic Applications

In contrast to the conventional 1,4-addition process, regioselective 1,2-addition of silyl enol ethers to quinones can now be achieved via a palladium(II) enolate pathway that provides access to 4-hydroxy-4-(2-oxo-2-arylethyl)cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one derivatives. This quinone alkylation protocol proceeds under mild reaction conditions at ambient temperature under open air and does not require either an external ligand for the palladium or the use of a base. Additionally, the cyclohexadienone products have been exploited as synthetic precursors for the construction of fused heteroaryl systems.

Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoxides via Pd(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective C-H Alkynylation/Kinetic Resolution of 2-(Arylsulfinyl)pyridines

A Pd(II)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H alkynylation of 2-(arylsulfinyl)pyridines via kinetic resolution using cheap and commercially available l-pGlu-OH as a chiral ligand is reported. A wide range of 2-(arylsulfinyl)pyridines were compatible with this protocol, giving the alkynylation products and recovered sulfoxides in high yields with high enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Furthermore, the enantioenriched products can be easily transformed to several other types of chiral sulfoxide scaffolds with the retention of enantiopurity.

CpxM(iii)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H functionalization through migratory insertion of metal-carbenes/nitrenes

Cp^xM(iii)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H functionalization reactions have progressed rapidly using either chiral cyclopentadienyl ligands or appropriate chiral carboxylic acids. In this context, highly reactive carbene and nitrene precursors can serve as effective C-H coupling partners, providing a straightforward and efficient approach to access chiral molecules. In this review, we highlight the developments in Cp^xM(iii)-catalyzed enantioselective C-H functionalization reactions through migratory insertion of metal-carbenes/nitrenes by employing chiral Cp^xM(iii) complexes or achiral Cp^xM(iii) complexes combined with chiral carboxylic acids.

Sulfur stereogenic centers in transition-metal-catalyzed asymmetric C-H functionalization: generation and utilization

Transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective C–H functionalization has emerged as a powerful tool for the synthesis of enantioenriched compounds in chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Sulfur-based functionalities are ubiquitous in many of the biologically active compounds, medicinal agents, functional materials, chiral auxiliaries and ligands. This perspective highlights recent advances in sulfur functional group enabled transition-metal-catalyzed enantioselective C–H functionalization for the construction of sulfur stereogenic centers, as well as the utilization of chiral sulfoxides to realize stereoselective C–H functionalization.

This perspective highlights sulfur functional groups enabled enantioselective C–H functionalization for the construction of sulfur stereogenic centers, and the utilization of chiral sulfoxide to realize stereoselective C–H functionalization.

Recommended Tests for the Self-Disproportionation of Enantiomers (SDE) to Ensure Accurate Reporting of the Stereochemical Outcome of Enantioselective Reactions

The purpose of this review is to highlight the necessity of conducting tests to gauge the magnitude of the self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) phenomenon to ensure the veracity of reported enantiomeric excess (ee) values for scalemic samples obtained from enantioselective reactions, natural products isolation, etc. The SDE always occurs to some degree whenever any scalemic sample is subjected to physicochemical processes concomitant with the fractionation of the sample, thus leading to erroneous reporting of the true ee of the sample if due care is not taken to either preclude the effects of the SDE by measurement of the ee prior to the application of physicochemical processes, suppressing the SDE, or evaluating all obtained fractions of the sample. Or even avoiding fractionation altogether if possible. There is a clear necessity to conduct tests to assess the magnitude of the SDE for the processes applied to samples and the updated and improved recommendations described herein cover chromatography and processes involving gas-phase transformations such as evaporation or sublimation.

Incorporating Photochromic Triphenylamine into a Zirconium-Organic Framework for Highly Effective Photocatalytic Aerobic Oxidation of Sulfides

A zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was successfully constructed via solvothermal assembly of a triphenylamine-based tricarboxylate ligand and Zr(IV) salt, the structure simulation of which revealed that it possesses a two-dimensional layered framework with a relatively rare dodecnuclear Zr₁₂ cluster as the inorganic building unit. The inherent photo-responsive property derived from the incorporated photochromic triphenylamine groups combined with its high stability makes the constructed MOF an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides, which is a fundamentally important reaction type in both environmental and pharmaceutical industries. The photocatalytic activity of the constructed MOF was first investigated under various conditions with thioanisole as a representative sulfide substrate. The MOF exhibited both high efficiency and selectivity on aerobic oxidation of thioanisole in methanol utilizing molecular oxygen in air as the oxidant under blue light irradiation for 10 h. Its high photocatalytic performance was also observed when extending the sulfide substrate to diverse thioanisole derivatives and even a sulfur-containing nerve agent simulant (2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide). The high photocatalytic efficiency and selectivity to a broad set of sulfide substrates make the triphenylamine-incorporating zirconium-based MOF a highly promising heterogeneous photocatalyst.

Straightforward Access to Thiocyanates via Dealkylative Cyanation of Sulfoxides

Thiocyanates, versatile building blocks in organic synthesis, are shown to be easily accessible via an interrupted Pummerer reaction of sulfoxides. This facile dealkylative functionalization proceeds under mild conditions through electrophilic activation of the sulfoxide partner. The resulting thiocyanate itself can serve as a handle for diversification in a straightforward one-pot procedure.

Hyperpolarisation of weakly binding N-heterocycles using signal amplification by reversible exchange

Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE) is a catalytic method for improving the detection of molecules by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It achieves this by simultaneously binding the target substrate (sub) and para-hydrogen to a metal centre. To date, sterically large substrates are relatively inaccessible to SABRE due to their weak binding leading to catalyst destabilisation. We overcome this problem here through a simple co-ligand strategy that allows the hyperpolarisation of a range of weakly binding and sterically encumbered N-heterocycles. The resulting 1H NMR signal size is increased by up to 1400 times relative to their more usual Boltzmann controlled levels at 400 MHz. Hence, a significant reduction in scan time is achieved. The SABRE catalyst in these systems takes the form [IrX(H)2(NHC)(sulfoxide)(sub)] where X = Cl, Br or I. These complexes are shown to undergo very rapid ligand exchange and lower temperatures dramatically improve the efficiency of these SABRE catalysts.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Diaryl Sulfoxides Enabled by Molecular Recognition

The enantioselective sulfoxidation of diaryl-type sulfides was accomplished using a chiral manganese porphyrin complex equipped with a remote molecular recognition site. Despite the marginal size difference between the two substituents at the prostereogenic sulfur center, hydrogen bonding enabled the formation of chiral sulfoxides with exquisite enantioselectivities (16 examples, up to 99% ee). Aside from the precise orientation of a distinct substrate, the quinolone lactam offers an excellent entry point for further derivatization.

Design, scope and mechanism of highly active and selective chiral NHC-iridium catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of a variety of unactivated aminoalkenes

Chiral, cationic NHC-iridium complexes are introduced as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination reaction of unactivated aminoalkenes. The catalysts show high activity in the construction of a range of 5- and 6-membered N-heterocycles, which are accessed in excellent optical purity, with various functional groups being tolerated with this system. A major deactivation pathway is presented and eliminated by using alternative reaction conditions. A detailed experimental and computational study on the reaction mechanism is performed providing valuable insights into the mode of action of the catalytic system and pointing to future modifications to be made for this catalytic platform.

Unconventional Biocatalytic Approaches to the Synthesis of Chiral Sulfoxides

Sulfoxides are a class of organic compounds that find wide application in medicinal and organic chemistry. Several biocatalytic approaches have been developed to synthesise enantioenriched sulfoxides, mainly by exploiting oxidative enzymes. Recently, the use of reductive enzymes such as Msr and Dms has emerged as a new, alternative method to obtain enantiopure sulfoxides from racemic mixtures. In parallel, novel oxidative approaches, employing nonclassical solvents such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), have been developed as greener and more sustainable biocatalytic synthetic pathways. This minireview aims highlights the recent advances made in the biocatalytic synthesis of enantioenriched sulfoxides by employing such unconventional approaches.

Heterogeneous catalysis with an organic–inorganic hybrid based on MoO3 chains decorated with 2,2′-biimidazole ligands

Polymeric [MoO₃(2,2′-biimidazole)]·H₂O outperforms other one-dimensional MoO₃-ligand hybrid materials as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for (bio)olefin epoxidation and sulfoxidation.

Overcoming the Deallylation Problem: Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Chemo-, Regio-, and Stereoselective Allylic Oxidation of Aryl Allyl Ether, Amine, and Amino Acids

We report herein a Pd(II)/bis-sulfoxide-catalyzed intramolecular allylic C-H acetoxylation of aryl allyl ether, amine, and amino acids with the retention of a labile allyl moiety. Mechanistically, the reaction proceeds through a distinct double-bond isomerization from the allylic to the vinylic position followed by intramolecular carboxypalladation and the β-hydride elimination pathway. For the first time, C-H oxidation of N-allyl-protected amino acids to furnish five-membered heterocycles through 1,3-syn-addition is established with excellent diastereoselectivity.

Regiocontrol in the oxidative Heck reaction of indole by ligand-enabled switch of the regioselectivity-determining step

Efficient control of regioselectivity is a key concern in transition-metal-catalyzed direct C-H functionalization reactions. Various strategies for regiocontrol have been established by tuning the selectivity of the C-H activation step as a common mode. Herein, we present our study on an alternative mode of regiocontrol, in which the selectivity of the C-H activation step is no longer a key concern. We found that, in a reaction where the C-H activation step exhibits a different regio-preference from the subsequent functionalization step, a ligand-enabled switch of the regioselectivity-determining step could provide efficient regiocontrol. This mode has been exemplified by the Pd(ii)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative Heck reaction of indoles, in which a ligand-controlled C3-/C2-selectivity was achieved for the first time by the development of sulfoxide-2-hydroxypyridine (SOHP) ligands.

Localized Partitioning of Enantiomers in Solid Samples of Sulfoxides: Importance of Sampling Method in Determination of Enantiopurity

Localized partitioning of amorphous enantioenriched aryl benzyl sulfoxides in the solid state can lead to substantial variation in enantiopurities, even for sulfoxides which do not show detectable levels of self-disproportionation of enantiomers (SDE) during chromatography on an achiral stationary phase. The importance of preparation of representative samples of enantioenriched sulfoxides for chiral HPLC to enable reproducible results is clear.

Modern Stereoselective Synthesis of Chiral Sulfinyl Compounds

Chiral sulfinyl compounds, sulfoxides, sulfoximines, sulfinamides, and other derivatives, play an important role in asymmetric synthesis as versatile auxiliaries, ligands, and catalysts. They are also recognized as pharmacophores found in already marketed and well-sold drugs (e.g., esomeprazole) and used in drug design. This review is devoted to the modern methods of preparation of sulfinyl derivatives in enantiopure or enantiomerically enriched form. Selected new approaches leading to racemic products for which the asymmetric variant can be developed in the future are mentioned as well.

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral α-alkynylated thiazolidones by tandem S-addition/acetalization of alkynyl imines

A SPINOL-derived chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric formal [2 + 3]-annulation of in situ generated alkynyl imines and 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol has been developed to afford enantiopure α-alkynylated thiazolidones with up to 72% yield and 98.5 : 1.5 er. This tandem annulation involved a tandem S-addition of alkynyl imines/intramolecular acetalization, followed by PDC-mediated oxidation. The α-alkynylated thiazolidones could facilely afford the corresponding chiral α-alkynylated or α-alkenylated cyclic sulfoxides via further elaboration.

Chiral N,N'-dioxide-iron(iii)-catalyzed asymmetric sulfoxidation with hydrogen peroxide

A highly enantioselective sulfoxidation of various sulfides has been achieved by a N,N'-dioxide-iron(iii) complex with 35% aq. H2O2 as the oxidant. The utility of the current method was demonstrated by asymmetric gram-scale synthesis of drug molecule (R)-modafinil. Moreover, a possible working mode was provided to elucidate the chiral induction.

2D and 3D Porphyrinic Covalent Organic Frameworks: The Influence of Dimensionality on Functionality

The construction of 2D and 3D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) from functional moieties for desired properties has gained much attention. However, the influence of COFs dimensionality on their functionalities, which can further assist in COF design, has never been explored. Now, by selecting designed precursors and topology diagrams, 2D and 3D porphyrinic COFs (2D-PdPor-COF and 3D-PdPor-COF) are synthesized. By model building and Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction, 2D-PdPor-COF crystallizes as 2D sheets while 3D-PdPor-COF adopts a five-fold interpenetrated pts topology. Interestingly, compared with 2D-PdPor-COF, 3D-PdPor-COF showed interesting properties, including 1) higher CO₂ adsorption capacity; 2) better photocatalytic performance; and 3) size-selective photocatalysis. Based on this study, we believe that with the incorporation of functional moieties, the dimensionality of COFs can definitely influence their functionalities.

Probing the Hydrogenation of Vinyl Sulfoxides Using para-Hydrogen

Vinyl sulfoxides are an important functional group used in a wide range of organic transformations. Here, we use [IrCl(COD)(IMes)] where IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene and COD = cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene to rapidly hydrogenate phenylvinylsulfoxide. We use para-hydrogen-induced hyperpolarization (PHIP) to follow this reaction with [IrCl(H)2(IMes)(S(O)(Ph)(Et))2] dominating in the later stages. Decomposition to form the reduced C-S bond cleavage product [Ir2(H)3(κ2-H)(κ2-SPh)2(IMes)2(S(Et)(Ph)O)] limits turnover. The related product [Ir2(H)4(κ2-S)(IMes)2(S(O)(CH2Ph)2)2] is formed from dibenzylsulfoxide, demonstrating the wider utility of this transformation.

Cyclometalated Ir-Zr Metal-Organic Frameworks as Recyclable Visible-Light Photocatalysts for Sulfide Oxidation into Sulfoxide in Water

Aerobic photo-oxidation of sulfide into sulfoxide in water is of great interest in green chemistry. In this study, three highly stable Ir(III)-Zr(IV) metal-organic frameworks (Ir-Zr MOFs), namely Zr₆-Irbpy (bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine), Zr₆-IrbpyOMe (bpyOMe is 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine), and Zr₆-Irphen (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline), are constructed by using [Ir(pqc)₂(L)₂]Cl complexes (where pqc is 2-phenylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid and L is an ancillary ligand bpy, bpyOMe, or phen) as linkers and Zr₆ cluster as nodes. The constructed Ir-Zr MOFs present high catalytic activity on aerobic photo-oxidation of sulfide into sulfoxide under visible light irradiation in water at room temperature. Moreover, the reaction is high chemoselectivity and functional group tolerance. The catalyst can be readily recycled and reused at least 10 times without loss of catalytic activity. Mechanism studies demonstrate that superoxide radical is the reactive oxygen species in the sulfoxidation, which is generated by electron transfer from the excited triplet photosensitizer ³[Ir-Zr-MOF]* to O₂. The high activity of photocatalytic sulfoxidation in water may be attributed to the stabilization of the persulfoxide intermediate by hydrogen bond formation with water solvent, which accelerates the conversion of persulfoxide into sulfoxide and prevents further oxidation of sulfoxide into sulfone. This work provides a new strategy for the green synthesis of sulfoxides under ambient conditions.

The Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides or Sulfones with Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by a Dendritic Phosphomolybdate Hybrid

The oxidation of sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones has been achieved using a low-cost poly(amidoamine) with a first-generation coupled phosphomolybdate hybrid as the catalyst and aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. The reusability of the catalyst was revealed in extensive experiments. The practice of this method in the preparation of a smart drug Modafinil has proved its good applicability.

Thermodynamic Resolution and Enantioselective Synthesis of C2-Symmetric Bis-sulfoxides Based on Chiral Iridium(III) Complexes

Enantiopure Λ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) and Δ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) (where dfppy is (4,6-difluoropheny)pyridine) were demonstrated to preferentially react with (S,S)-1,2-bis(arylsulfinyl)ethane and (R,R)-1,2-bis(arylsulfinyl)ethane, respectively, under thermodynamic equilibrium. Sequential treatment of Λ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) and Δ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) with C₂-symmetric bis-sulfoxides led to diastereoselective formation of the corresponding diastereomers Λ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(R,R)-bis-sulfoxide)](PF₆) in 90-92% and Δ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(S,S)-bis-sulfoxide)](PF₆) in 88-90%, respectively. The uncoordinated (R,S)-bis-sulfoxides were afforded in 45% with >97% de values. Enantiopure (S,S)-bis-sulfoxides and (R,R)-bis-sulfoxides were respectively obtained by the release of sulfoxide ligands from the corresponding complexes in the presence of glycine in yields of 20-21% with 97-99% ee values. The enantioreceptors Λ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) and Δ-[Ir(dfppy)₂(MeCN)₂](PF₆) can be recycled and reused in the next reaction cycle. Moreover, a protocol for asymmetric oxidation of prochiral bis-sulfide into enantiopure C₂ symmetric bis-sulfoxide was also developed in a high enantioselectivity. The absolute configurations at the metal centers and sulfur atoms were determined by X-ray crystallography.

Steric Tuning of Sulfinamide/Sulfoxides as Chiral Ligands with C1, Pseudo-meso, and Pseudo-C2 Symmetries: Application in Rhodium(I)-Mediated Arylation

A new family of sulfinamide/sulfoxide derivatives was synthesized as chiral bidentate ligands by stereoselective additions of methylsulfinyl carbanions to N-tert-butylsulfinylimines. The new ligands, with C₁, pseudo-meso, and pseudo-C₂ symmetries, were successfully assayed in Rh-catalyzed additions of arylboronic acids to activated ketones. The sterically dissymmetric C₁ ligand (R_S,S_C,R_S)-N-[1-(phenylsulfinyl)-3-methylbut-2-yl] tert-butylsulfinamide turned out to be the optimal one, allowing the 1,4-additions of diverse arylboronic acids, on different α,β-unsaturated cyclic ketones with high chemical yields and enantioselectivities up to >99% ee.

Bond-Forming and -Breaking Reactions at Sulfur(IV): Sulfoxides, Sulfonium Salts, Sulfur Ylides, and Sulfinate Salts

Organosulfur compounds have long played a vital role in organic chemistry and in the development of novel chemical structures and architectures. Prominent among these organosulfur compounds are those involving a sulfur(IV) center, which have been the subject of countless investigations over more than a hundred years. In addition to a long list of textbook sulfur-based reactions, there has been a sustained interest in the chemistry of organosulfur(IV) compounds in recent years. Of particular interest within organosulfur chemistry is the ease with which the synthetic chemist can effect a wide range of transformations through either bond formation or bond cleavage at sulfur. This review aims to cover the developments of the past decade in the chemistry of organic sulfur(IV) molecules and provide insight into both the wide range of reactions which critically rely on this versatile element and the diverse scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized.

Efficient Generation of Singlet Oxygen and Photooxidation of Sulfide into Sulfoxide via Tuning the Ancillary of Bicyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes

With 2-phenylquinoline (pq) as a cyclometalated ligand, a series of cationic Ir(III) complexes [Ir(pq)₂(L1)₂](PF₆) (L1 is pyridine (1a), 4-methoxypyridine (1b), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (1c), and 4-acetylpyridine (1d)) and [Ir(pq)₂(L2)](PF₆) (L2 is 2,2'-bipyridine (1e), 2,2'-bipyrimidyl (1f), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (1g), and 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine (1h)) were synthesized and characterized. The influence of the metal-based highest occupied molecular orbital on triplet-state lifetime, triplet-state quantum yield, and ¹O₂ generation quantum yield as well as aerobic photo-oxidation of sulfide into sulfoxide was evaluated via tuning the ancillary ligand of Ir(pq)₂ complexes. The results revealed that 1h with chelate ancillary ligand bearing electron-donating group possesses a high ¹O₂ generation quantum yield (0.90) and photocatalytic activity for sulfide oxidation with high chemoselectivity and a low catalyst loading (0.5 mol %) under mild conditions. Moreover, one-pot two-step procedure for preparation of enantiopure sulfoxides, including aerobic photo-oxidation of sulfide using 1h as a photosensitizer and chiral resolution of sulfoxide via a chiral-at-metal strategy, was also developed.

Regioselective and oxidant-free sulfinylation of indoles and pyrroles with sulfinamides

An unexpected time-controlled highly selective C3- or C2-sulfinylation of pyrroles with sulfinamides is reported for the first time. The sulfinylation of indoles with sulfinamides using this protocol is oxidant-free and can be performed under obviously more feasible conditions (1.2 equiv. of indoles, 10 min) in comparison with the precedent procedure (3-20 equiv. of indoles, 16-18 h, ammonium persulfate as oxidant, hv). A variety of functional groups were tolerated, and various C2-thioindoles and C2/3-thiopyrroles were obtained in moderate to excellent yields.