An Interrupted Pummerer/Nickel-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Sequence

Reactivity of 5-(Alkynyl)dibenzothiophenium Salts: Synthesis of Diynes, Vinyl Sulfones, and Phenanthrenes

The reactivity of 5-(alkynyl)dibenzothiophenium salts 1 is explored in the presence of different nucleophiles, dienes, and under photochemical conditions. Reaction with lithium acetylides affords diynes in moderate yields; while depending on the substitution pattern, the reaction with sulfinates delivers either the alkyne transfer products, alkynyl sulfones, or β-(sulfonium) vinyl sulfones through addition to the C-C triple bond. Similar behavior is observed when tosylamines are used as nucleophiles. Salts of general formula 1 also react with dienes to render the corresponding Diels-Alder cycloadducts. The vinyl sulfonium salts obtained by these routes further react with nucleophiles through a Michael addition, dibenzothiophene elimination sequence. Alternatively, they also engage in photoinduced radical cyclizations to produce substituted phenanthrenes. Attempts to use this specific addition/radical cyclization sequence for the construction of the 6a,7-dehydroaporphine skeleton present in several families of alkaloids are also described.

α-Diazo Sulfonium Triflates: Synthesis, Structure, and Application to the Synthesis of 1-(Dialkylamino)-1,2,3-triazoles

The one-pot synthesis of a series of sulfonium salts containing transferable diazomethyl groups is described, and the structure of these compounds is elucidated by X-ray crystallography. Under photochemical conditions, reaction of these salts with N,N-dialkyl hydrazones affords 1-(dialkylamino)-1,2,3-triazoles via diazomethyl radical addition to the azomethine carbon followed by intramolecular ring closure. The straightforward transformation of the structures thus obtained into mesoionic carbene-metal complexes is also reported and the donor properties of these new ligands characterized.

Synthesis of Pyridylsulfonium Salts and Their Application in the Formation of Functionalized Bipyridines

An S-selective arylation of pyridylsulfides with good functional group tolerance was developed. To demonstrate synthetic utility, the resulting pyridylsulfonium salts were used in a scalable transition-metal-free coupling protocol, yielding functionalized bipyridines with extensive functional group tolerance. This modular methodology permits selective introduction of functional groups from commercially available pyridyl halides, furnishing symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,2'- and 2,3'-bipyridines. Iterative application of the methodology enabled the synthesis of a functionalized terpyridine with three different pyridine components.

Synthetic Applications of Sulfonium Salts

This minireview aims to cover the developments over the past two decades in the chemistry of sulfonium salts. Specifically, insight is provided into the synthetic strategies available for the preparation of these compounds, the different reactivity patterns that are expected depending on their structural features or the reaction conditions applied, and the diversity of organic scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized. Additionally, the pros and cons derived from the use of sulfonium salts are presented and critically compared, when possible, in relation to reagents not based on sulfur but depicting similar reactivity.

Regio- and Stereoselective Thianthrenation of Olefins To Access Versatile Alkenyl Electrophiles

Herein, we report a regioselective alkenyl electrophile synthesis from unactivated olefins that is based on a direct and regioselective C-H thianthrenation reaction. The selectivity is proposed to arise from an unusual inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. The alkenyl sulfonium salts can serve as electrophiles in palladium- and ruthenium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to make alkenyl C-C, C-Cl, C-Br, and C-SCF3 bonds with stereoretention.

Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of 5-(Aryl)dibenzothiophenium Triflates

A synthetic protocol for the preparation of 5-(aryl)dibenzothiophenium salts starting from inexpensive dibenzothiophene S-oxide and simple arenes is reported. The scope of the method regarding the nature of the arene is evaluated, intermediates along the reaction sequence have been trapped, and side-reactions identified. In addition, the X-ray structures of a complete set of these salts are reported and their reactivities studied. Specifically, chemoselective Suzuki coupling is observed at the dibenzothiophenium in the presence of iodides.

Catalytic Carbonylation and Carboxylation of Organosulfur Compounds via C-S Cleavage

Transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylation with CO gas occupies a privileged position in organic synthesis for the synthesis of carbonyl compounds. Although this attractive and useful chemistry has led many researchers to investigate carbonylative transformations of various organic (pseudo)halides, C-S-cleaving carbonylation of organosulfur compounds has been fairly limited. Recently, a broad spectrum of C-S-cleaving transformations has been emerging in the field of cross-coupling. In light of the importance of carbonyl compounds as well as considerable advancement for employing organosulfur compounds as competent surrogates of (pseudo)halides, carbonylative transformations of C-S bonds should be of high value. This Minireview focuses on catalytic C-S carbonylation of organosulfur compounds with CO or its equivalents. In addition, reductive carboxylation of C-S bonds with CO₂ is described.

Transition-Metal-Free Cross-Coupling of Benzothiophenes and Styrenes in a Stereoselective Synthesis of Substituted (E,Z)-1,3-Dienes

A transition metal-free one-pot stereoselective approach to substituted (E,Z)-1,3-dienes was developed by using an interrupted Pummerer reaction/ligand-coupling strategy. Readily available benzothiophene S-oxides, which can be conveniently prepared by oxidation of the parent benzothiophenes, undergo Pummerer coupling with styrenes. Reaction of the resultant sulfonium salts with alkyllithium/magnesium reagents generates underexploited hypervalent sulfurane intermediates that undergo selective ligand coupling, resulting in dismantling of the benzothiophene motif and the formation of decorated (E,Z)-1,3-dienes.

5-(Alkynyl)dibenzothiophenium Triflates: Sulfur-Based Reagents for Electrophilic Alkynylation

The synthesis of a series of 5-(alkynyl) dibenzothiophenium triflates, prepared from dibenzo[b,d]thiophene 5-oxide and the corresponding trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes is reported. Their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography, and their reactivities as electrophilic alkynylation reagents evaluated. Their broad substrate scope and functional-group tolerance illustrate their potential to become an alternative to the broadly used EBX reagents. Isotope labeling studies reveal that alkynyldibenzothiophenium salts may undergo attack by nucleophiles at either the α- or β-carbon atom depending on the nature of their substitution pattern. Subsequent elimination of the dibenzothiophene unit and 1,2-migration of one of the groups (in case of β-attack) affords the desired alkynes.