Enantioselective synthesis of sulfoxides: 2000-2009

Sulfoxide-alkene hybrids: a new class of chiral ligands for the Hayashi-Miyaura reaction

Sulfoxide-alkene hybrids are introduced as a new class of chiral heterodentate ligands for the Hayashi-Miyaura reaction. The synthesis of these ligands was achieved without the use of protecting groups. A chiral resolution was performed via simple column-chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric ligands. Both diastereomers proved to be excellent ligands in Rh-catalyzed 1,4-addition reactions, furnishing chiral products with high enantioselectivities and, remarkably, opposite stereoconfigurations.

Asymmetric synthesis of tertiary thiols and thioethers

Enantiomerically pure tertiary thiols provide a major synthetic challenge, and despite the importance of chiral sulfur-containing compounds in biological and medicinal chemistry, surprisingly few effective methods are suitable for the asymmetric synthesis of tertiary thiols. This review details the most practical of the methods available.

Methyl sulfinates as electrophiles in Friedel-Crafts reactions. Synthesis of aryl sulfoxides

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of methyl alkyl- and arylsulfinates with aromatic systems, activated by one or more electron-donating substituents (OH, OMe, NHR, NR(2)), provides alkyl aryl and diaryl sulfoxides under mild conditions and in moderate to good yields. The very high regioselectivity usually observed in these sulfinylation reactions is rationalized on the basis of a Wheland intermediate having a trigonal bypyramidal structure in which steric and electronic interactions are significant factors strongly destabilizing the attack to the ortho positions.