Recent Advance on Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Used as a Multipurpose Reactant

Abstract:

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is not only a common and cheap aprotic polar solvent with low toxicity, but also serves as an efficient and multipurpose reactant and has widely been used in organic synthesis. DMSO as an important precursor can effectively introducea broad range of functional fragments into organic molecules, such as -Me, -CH, -CH2, -SMe2, -CH2SMe, -CH2SOMe, -SMe, -SO2Me, -SOMe or as O substituents, and serves as a mild oxidant in organic transformations. Many significant achievements based on DMSO as a synthon in synthetic chemistry have rapidly made over the past several years. To help researchers further understand the recent advances in the field, the review summarizes the applications of DMSO as carbon, sulfur, and oxygen sources and is used as the dual synthon in synthetic transformations.

Redox-Divergent Construction of (Dihydro)thiophenes with DMSO

Thiophene-based rings are one of the most widely used building blocks for the synthesis of sulfur-containing molecules. Inspired by the redox diversity of these features in nature, we demonstrate herein a redox-divergent construction of dihydrothiophenes, thiophenes, and bromothiophenes from the respective readily available allylic alcohols, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and HBr. The redox-divergent selectivity could be manipulated mainly by controlling the dosage of DMSO and HBr. Mechanistic studies suggest that DMSO simultaneously acts as an oxidant and a sulfur donor. The synthetic potentials of the products as platform molecules were also demonstrated by various derivatizations, including the preparation of bioactive and functional molecules.

Direct oxidation of N-ynylsulfonamides into N-sulfonyloxoacetamides with DMSO as a nucleophilic oxidant

N-Arylethynylsulfonamides are oxidized into N-sulfonyl-2-aryloxoacetamides directly and efficiently with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as both an oxidant and solvent with microwave assistance. DFT calculations indicate that DMSO nucleophilically attacks the ethylic triple bond and transfers its oxygen atom to the triple bond to form zwitterionic anionic N-sulfonyliminiums to trigger the reaction. Then it nucleophilically attacks the generated iminium intermediates to accomplish the oxidation via the second oxygen atom transfer. The current method provides a straightforward and efficient strategy to transform various N-arylethynylsulfonamides into N-sulfonyl-2-aryloxoacetamides, sulfonyl oxoacetimides, without any other electrophilic activators or oxidants.

Microwave-assisted direct oxidation of N-arylethynylsulfonamides with DMSO as a nucleophilic oxidant and solvent affords N-sulfonyl-2-aryloxoacetamides without any other additional electrophilic activators or oxidants.

Synthesis of 3-benzylidenetetrahydrofurans: Tf2O-catalyzed hydroxylation/cyclization of cyclopropanemethanols with DMSO

A formal hydroxylation/cyclization of cyclopropanemethanols with DMSO is described, which involves isomerization and cyclization under Tf₂O catalysis. This reaction undergoes ring-opening of the cyclopropane moiety to generate homoallylic alcohols, which react with DMSO to produce 3-benzylidenetetrahydrofurans. With various substituted groups on cyclopropanemethanols the reactions proceed smoothly and the desired 3-benzylidenetetrahydrofurans are obtained in moderate to good yields.

Methanesulfinylation of Benzyl Halides with Dimethyl Sulfoxide

A phenyltrimethylammonium tribromide-mediated nucleophilic substitution/oxygen transformation reaction of benzyl halides with DMSO has been developed. In this transition-metal-free reaction, DMSO acts as not only a solvent but also a "S(O)Me" source, thus providing a convenient method for the efficient and direct synthesis of various benzyl methyl sulfoxides.

Acid-Controlled Access to β-Sulfenyl Ketones and α,β-Disulfonyl Ketones by Pummerer Reaction of β-Keto Sulfones and Sulfoxides

A convenient acid-mediated reaction of β-keto sulfones with sulfoxides under metal-free conditions has been developed, thereby delivering the acid-controlled synthesis of β-sulfenyl ketones and α,β-disulfonyl ketones in good to excellent yields. The mechanism of the transformations has been studied carefully, which suggested the involvement of a radical process in the formation of α,β-disulfonyl ketones.

Antibiotic activities of propanolamine containing 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones against phytopathogenic bacteria

Various 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one derivatives containing propanolamine groups have been shown to exhibit good antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa), X. axonopodis pv citri (Xac) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo). 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one 4n showed the best inhibitory effects against Psa, Xac and Xoo, exhibiting in vitro EC₅₀ values of 4.95, 4.71 and 8.50 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. These potencies were superior to the corresponding EC₅₀ values of the commercial antibiotics bismerthiazol (BT, 89.10, and 116.90 μg mL⁻¹) and thiodiazole copper (TC, 127.30, 82.73 and 87.50 μg mL⁻¹). Treatment on the bacterial leaf blight of rice revealed that compound 4n displayed better curative (51%) and protective (48%) activities for reducing rice BLB than either BT (41%, 39%) or TC (43%, 41%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of Xoo that had been treated with 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one 4n (50–100 μg mL⁻¹) revealed that the bacterial cells had experienced extensive cell wall damage, which is the likely cause of its antimicrobial activity and bacterial death.

Various 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one derivatives containing propanolamine groups have been shown to exhibit good antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa), X. axonopodis pv citri (Xac) and Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo).

I2-DMSO-H2O: A Metal-Free Combination System for the Oxidative Addition of Alkynes to Access (E)-α-Iodo-β-methylsulfonylalkenes

A simple and green reaction was discovered for iodization-methylsulfoxidation of alkynes to access (E)-α-iodo-β-methylsulfonylalkenes. This is the first report for the synthesis of iodovinyl methylsulfones by employing alkynes to react with molecular iodine (I₂), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and H₂O. Additionally, this protocol represents a new avenue for utilizing DMSO as the source of the -SO₂Me group and H₂O as the "O" source for the construction of the -SO₂Me group from DMSO, which is a valuable finding.

Synthesis of 3-Acyl-isoxazoles and Δ2-Isoxazolines from Methyl Ketones, Alkynes or Alkenes, and tert-Butyl Nitrite via a Csp3-H Radical Functionalization/Cycloaddition Cascade

A novel metal-free tandem Csp³-H bond functionalization of ketones and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition has been developed. An efficient approach to a variety of oxazole and isoxazoline derivatives is demonstrated using the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of alkynes and alkenes to nitrile oxides generated by reactions of methyl ketones with tert-butyl nitrite. This new protocol provides access to a variety of isoxazolines with diverse functionalities. An isoxazole generated in this way was found to have significant antifungal activity.

tert-Butyl nitrite-mediated radical cyclization of tetrazole amines and alkynes toward tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines

A general and efficient radical cyclization of 1H-tetrazol-5-amines and alkynes toward tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines is established for the first time. The annulation mediated by tert-butyl nitrite takes place expeditiously within 10 minutes under mild conditions. Without using external additives or excitation, the tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline derivatives are obtained in moderate to good yields, along with high regioselectivities for unsymmetrical alkynes and broad functional tolerance features. The reaction is exemplified to occur via a radical process, with aryl radicals synergistically generated from tert-butyl nitrite, water and tetrazolate-diazonium salts.

Direct Sulfoxidation of Aromatic Methyl Thioethers with Aryl Halides by Copper-Catalyzed C(sp3)–H Bond Activation

A copper-catalyzed direct sulfoxidation reaction by C(sp3)–H bond activation has been developed. Starting from sample aromatic methyl thioethers with aryl halides, versatile biologically-active arylbenzylsulfoxide derivatives were efficiently synthesized in good to high yields under mild conditions. This new methodology provides an economical approach toward C(sp3)–C(sp2) bond formation.

Novel 5-chloro-pyrazole derivatives containing a phenylhydrazone moiety as potent antifungal agents: synthesis, crystal structure, biological evaluation and a 3D-QSAR study

Novel 5-chloro-pyrazole derivatives containing a phenylhydrazone moiety were designed and synthesized. Some of the target compounds showed potent fungicidal activity. A 3D-QSAR study provides information for structural optimization.

A cascade oxidation/[4 + 1] annulation of sulfonium salts for synthesis of polyfunctional furans: DMSO as one carbon source

A novel DMSO-involved cascade reaction of stabilized sulfonium salts has been established for direct construction of polyfunctional furans.

Molecular iodine-mediated formal [2+1+1+1] cycloaddition access to pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines with DMSO as the methylene source

A molecular iodine-mediated formal [2+1+1+1] cycloaddition for the efficient synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolines from acetophenones, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) and DMSO has been developed.