Vanadium-catalyzed sulfur oxidation/kinetic resolution in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure alkyl aryl sulfoxides

Electrochemical Sulfonylation/Cyclization of N-Alkenylacrylamides with Sodium Sulfinates or Sulfonyl Hydrazides

Two general protocols for the regioselective electrochemically enabled sulfonylation cyclization of N-alkenylacrylamides with sodium sulfinates or sulfonyl hydrazides were described. These methods were carried out under mild, chemical oxidant-free, and transition-metal-free conditions with a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance to provide sulfonyl-containing 4-pyrrolin-2-ones, which is readily scalable to the gram scale.

Peroxygenase-Catalysed Sulfoxidations in Non-Aqueous Media

Chiral sulfoxides are valuable building blocks in asymmetric synthesis. However, the biocatalytic synthesis of chiral sulfoxides is still challenged by low product titres. Herein, we report the use of peroxygenase as a catalyst for asymmetric sulfoxidation under non-aqueous conditions. Upon covalent immobilisation, the peroxygenase showed stability and activity under neat reaction conditions. A large variety of sulfides was converted into chiral sulfoxides in very high product concentration with moderate to satisfactory optical purity (e. g. 626 mM of (R)-methyl phenyl sulfoxide in approx. 89 % ee in 48 h). Further polishing of the ee value via cascading methionine reductase A (MsrA) gave>99 % ee of the sulfoxide. The robustness of the enzymes and high product titer is superior to the state-of-the-art methodologies. Gram-scale synthesis has been demonstrated. Overall, we demonstrated a practical and facile catalytic method to synthesize chiral sulfoxides.

Enzymatic Resolution and Decarboxylative Functionalization of α-Sulfinyl Esters

α-Sulfinyl esters can be readily prepared through thiol substitution of α-bromo esters followed by oxidation to the sulfoxide. Enzymatic resolution with lipoprotein lipase provides both the unreacted esters and corresponding α-sulfinyl carboxylic acids in high yields and enantiomeric ratios. Subsequent decarboxylative halogenation, dihalogenation, trihalogenation and cross-coupling gives rise to functionalized sulfoxides. The method has been applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a potent inhibitor of 15-prostaglandin dehydrogenase.

2-(Fluoromethoxy)-4'-(S-methanesulfonimidoyl)-1,1'-biphenyl (UCM-1306), an Orally Bioavailable Positive Allosteric Modulator of the Human Dopamine D1 Receptor for Parkinson's Disease

Tolerance development caused by dopamine replacement with l-DOPA and therapeutic drawbacks upon activation of dopaminergic receptors with orthosteric agonists reveal a significant unmet need for safe and effective treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In search for selective modulators of the D₁ receptor, the screening of a chemical library and subsequent medicinal chemistry program around an identified hit resulted in new synthetic compound 26 [UCM-1306, 2-(fluoromethoxy)-4′-(S-methanesulfonimidoyl)-1,1′-biphenyl] that increases the dopamine maximal effect in a dose-dependent manner in human and mouse D₁ receptors, is inactive in the absence of dopamine, modulates dopamine affinity for the receptor, exhibits subtype selectivity, and displays low binding competition with orthosteric ligands. The new allosteric modulator potentiates cocaine-induced locomotion and enhances l-DOPA recovery of decreased locomotor activity in reserpinized mice after oral administration. The behavior of compound 26 supports the interest of a positive allosteric modulator of the D₁ receptor as a promising therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease.

Late-stage modification of π-electron systems based on asymmetric oxidation of a medium-sized sulfur-containing ring

The asymmetric oxidation of a sulfur-containing nine-membered heterocycle was achieved for the late-stage introduction of chirality to the substituents of π-electron systems. The oxidation of the sulfur atom considerably influenced the phase-transition behaviour and crystallinity of the resulting π-electron systems.

Kinetic Resolution of Sulfinamides via Asymmetric N-Allylic Alkylation

An efficient kinetic resolution of sulfinamides via an asymmetric N-allylic alkylation reaction was realized using hydroquinine as a catalyst under mild conditions. The kinetic resolution of a range of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts and N-aryl tert-butylsulfinamides was highly effective. In addition, the synthetic utility of the protocol was demonstrated by a scaled-up reaction. Density functional theory calculations provide convincing evidence for the interpretation of stereoselection.

Access to Axially and Centrally Chiral Sulfinamides via Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation

Herein, access to axially and centrally chiral sulfinamides via asymmetric allylic alkylation was reported. A series of sulfinamides were obtained with good outcomes (up to 99% yield, >19:1 dr, and 98:2 er). The synthetic utility of the reaction was demonstrated by scaled-up synthesis, product transformation, and application as a catalyst in asymmetric catalysis.

Enantioselective Sulfoxidation of Thioanisole by Cascading a Choline Oxidase and a Peroxygenase in the Presence of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents

A bienzymatic cascade for selective sulfoxidation is presented. The evolved recombinant peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegeritra catalyses the enantioselective sulfoxidation of thioanisole whereas the choline oxidase from Arthrobacter nicotianae provides the H₂ O₂ necessary via reductive activation of ambient oxygen. The reactions are performed in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents serving as co-solvent and stoichiometric reductant at the same time. Very promising product concentrations (up to 15 mM enantiopure sulfoxide) and catalyst performances (turnover numbers of 150,000 and 2100 for the peroxygenase and oxidase, respectively) have been achieved.

Synthesis of Highly Enantioenriched Sulfonimidoyl Fluorides and Sulfonimidamides by Stereospecific Sulfur-Fluorine Exchange (SuFEx) Reaction

Sulfonimidamides present exciting opportunities as chiral isosteres of sulfonamides, with potential for additional directional interactions. Here, we present the first modular enantioselective synthesis of sulfonimidamides, including the first stereoselective synthesis of enantioenriched sulfonimidoyl fluorides, and studies on their reactivity. A new route to sulfonimidoyl fluorides is presented from solid bench-stable, N-Boc-sulfinamide (Boc=tert-butyloxycarbonyl) salt building blocks. Enantioenriched arylsulfonimidoyl fluorides are shown to be readily racemised by fluoride ions. Conditions are developed, which trap fluoride and enable the stereospecific reaction of sulfonimidoyl fluorides with primary and secondary amines (100 % es, es=enantiospecificity) generating sulfonimidamides with up to 99 % ee. Aryl and alkyl sulfonimidoyl fluoride reagents are suitable for mild late stage functionalisation reactions, exemplified by coupling with a selection of complex amines in marketed drugs.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Sulfinate Esters: Nickel(II)-Catalyzed Oxidative Esterification of Thiols with Alcohols in an Undivided Cell

In this study, nickel-catalyzed electrochemical oxidative esterification of thiols with alcohols for the synthesis of sulfinate esters has been reported. The electrochemical oxidative esterification proceeded through a nickel-catalyzed oxidation of thiols using an undivided cell of graphite/nickel electrodes, where the nickel oxidation was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The method was conveniently and directly used for the one-pot synthesis of sulfinate esters of thiols.

Synthesis and nano-Pd catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical sulfides

A highly chemoselective, efficient and nano-Pd catalyzed protocol for the rapid construction of sulfoxides and sulfones via the oxidation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical sulfides using H2O2 as an oxidant has been developed, respectively. The ready availability of starting materials, easy recovery and reutilization of the catalyst, wide substrate scope, and high yields make this protocol an attractive alternative. The process also involves the metal-free and microwave-promoted synthesis of symmetrical diarylsulfides, and FeCl3-mediated preparation of symmetrical diaryldisulfides through the reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with Na2S·9H2O as a sulfur source. In addition, unsymmetrical sulfides were generated via the K2CO3-mediated reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with symmetrical disulfides.

Schiff base complex conjugates of bovine serum albumin as artificial metalloenzymes for eco-friendly enantioselective sulfoxidation

Artificial metalloenzymes (BSA-ML) have been prepared by non-covalent insertion of transition metal Schiff-base complexes, ML (L = 2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-naphthaldehyde and 3,4-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid; M = Co, Mn, V, Fe, Cr), into bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the host protein and were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, ESI-TOF mass spectrometry and molecular docking studies. The catalytic activities of the BSA-ML in the selective oxidation of various prochiral sulfides in aqueous media, using H2O2 as oxidant, have been evaluated. During the optimization process, pH and the concentrations of catalyst and oxidant were found to have a remarkable influence on both yield and enantioselectivity. In certain cases, BSA-ML gave satisfactory results in the oxidation of organic sulfides to sulfoxides (up to 100% conversion, 100% chemoselectivity, 96% ee and 500 h-1 turnover frequency).

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.

Tuning of Catalytic Property Controlled by the Molecular Dimension of Palladium-Schiff Base Complexes Encapsulated in Zeolite Y

Planar palladium-Schiff base complexes are synthesized, maintaining the order of their molecular dimensions as PdL1 < PdL2 < PdL3 < PdL4 < PdL5 in free state, as well as encapsulated in zeolite Y, where L1: N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine and L2, L3, L4, and L5 are derivatives of L1. All encapsulated complexes have shown better catalytic activity for the sulfoxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide in comparison to their homogeneous counter parts. These hybrid systems are characterized with the help of different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and UV-visible spectroscopy; all of these studies have suggested that the largest complex deviates by the maximum from its free-state properties, and a radical change in the reactivity of the complex is observed.

An Asymmetric Redox Arylation: Chirality Transfer from Sulfur to Carbon through a Sulfonium [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement

A general, asymmetric redox arylation of ynamides and thioalkynes with chiral sulfoxides is reported. This is the first example of a general 1,4-chirality transfer from sulfur to a carbon stereocenter through a sulfonium [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This reaction delivers α-arylated thioesters and amides under mild conditions in an atom-economical manner. The products are formed in high yields with enantiomeric ratios up to 99.5:0.5. Quantum chemical calculations suggest a mechanism for the chirality transfer from sulfur to carbon and explain the experimentally observed correlation of the enantioselectivity with both the catalyst and the substrate.

On the Origins of Nonradiative Excited State Relaxation in Aryl Sulfoxides Relevant to Fluorescent Chemosensing

We provide herein a mechanistic analysis of aryl sulfoxide excited state processes, inspired by our recent report of aryl sulfoxide based fluorescent chemosensors. The use of aryl sulfoxides as reporting elements in chemosensor development is a significant deviation from previous approaches, and thus warrants closer examination. We demonstrate that metal ion binding suppresses nonradiative excited state decay by blocking formation of a previously unrecognized charge transfer excited state, leading to fluorescence enhancement. This charge transfer state derives from the initially formed locally excited state followed by intramolecular charge transfer to form a sulfoxide radical cation/aryl radical anion pair. With the aid of computational studies, we map out ground and excited state potential energy surface details for aryl sulfoxides, and conclude that fluorescence enhancement is almost entirely the result of excited state effects. This work expands previous proposals that excited state pyramidal inversion is the major nonradiative decay pathway for aryl sulfoxides. We show that pyramidal inversion is indeed relevant, but that an additional and dominant nonradiative pathway must also exist. These conclusions have implications for the design of next generation sulfoxide based fluorescent chemosensors.

Enantioselective Sulfoxidation Catalyzed by a Bisguanidinium Diphosphatobisperoxotungstate Ion Pair

The first enantioselective tungstate-catalyzed oxidation reaction is presented. High enantioselectivities were achieved for a variety of drug-like phenyl and heterocyclic sulfides under mild conditions with H2 O2 , a cheap and environmentally friendly oxidant. Synthetic utility was demonstrated through the preparation of (S)-Lansoprazole, a commercial proton-pump inhibitor. The active ion-pair catalyst was identified to be bisguanidinium diphosphatobisperoxotungstate using Raman spectroscopy and computational studies.

Structure-induced catalysis enhancement of Cu-amino catalysts for rapidly selective oxidation of sulfides in the presence of H2O2

A Cu-amino coordination polymer promotes rapid sulfoxidation of benzyl phenyl sulfide toward the sulfoxide with high conversion and selectivity.

Facile synthesis of enantioenriched phenol-sulfoxides and their aluminum complexes

Chiral phenolic p-tolylsulfoxides, t-butylsulfoxides and well-defined aluminum complexes were prepared by short synthetic routes from readily available starting materials.