Divergent Reactivity of Alkyl Aryl Sulfones with Bases: Selective Functionalization ofortho-Aryl and α-Alkyl Units Enabled by a Unique Carbanion Transmetalation

Synthesis of 4-sulfonyl-1,7-diesters via K2CO3-mediated alkylative debenzoylation of α-sulfonyl o-hydroxyacetophenones with acrylates

The synthesis of 4-sulfonyl-1,7-diesters was well developed, under open-vessel conditions, by K2CO3-mediated double alkylation of α-sulfonyl o-hydroxyacetophenones with acrylates and tandem debenzoylation of the resulting α,α-disubstituted o-hydroxyacetophenones. A plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed here. This high-yielding protocol provides a highly effective intermolecular alkylation and intramolecular debenzoylation via the formation of two carbon-carbon (C-C) single bonds and the cleavage of a carbon-carbon (C-C) single bond.

Nickel-catalyzed desulfonylative olefination of β-hydroxysulfones

A Ni-catalyzed C–O bond activation is used to access alkenes directly from β-hydroxysulfones.

Efficient copper(i)-catalyzed oxidative intermolecular 1,2-estersulfenylation of styrenes with peroxyesters and disulfides

A simple and practical method for the synthesis of thio-substituted esters through copper(i)-catalyzed intermolecular 1,2-estersulfenylation of styrenes with peroxyesters and disulfides was developed. In this transformation, two new C-S bond and C-O bond were constructed simultaneously under a copper catalyst system, and the transformation exhibits a broad substrate scope and good functional group compatibility. In addition, this method can also be applied to arylthiols. It should be noted that peroxyesters not only acted as nucleophilic reagents but also as oxidants.

1-(Phenylsulfonyl)-3-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one as a Building Block in Organic Synthesis

The transformation of the readily available phenylsulfonyl lactone building block to structurally diverse molecular scaffolds is described. Depicted structures are accessed in one to three steps, and their overall yields are high. The rigidity of the starting building block greatly directs the stereoselectivity of the transformations, and newly generated stereogenic centers including the quaternary carbon centers are formed with high stereoselectivity generally superior to dr > 95:1.

A general approach to iridoids by applying a new Julia olefination and a tandem anion-radical-carbocation crossover reaction

An efficient asymmetric approach to dihydronepetalactone and dolicholactone is presented featuring a Julia olefination and an anion–radical–cation crossover reaction.

Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Sulfides and Their Oxidation to Sulfones to Discover Potent Antileishmanial Agents

Unsymmetrical sulfides were first synthesized using combinations of a 1,3-dicarbonyl, an aromatic aldehyde and a thiol in the presence of 10 mol % ethanolic piperidine. These sulfides derivatives were subsequently converted into corresponding sulfones via oxidation in the presence of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) at ice-bath to room temperature. The former reaction was achieved at room temperature through one-pot three-component. The later was obtained in good yields using mild reaction conditions with flexibility in choice from a range of substrates. The antimicrobial properties of the newly synthesized sulfone derivatives were investigated against the protozoan parasite, Leishmania donovani, a causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Nine sulfone derivatives were found to be efficacious and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. Further, these compounds were nontoxic on murine peritoneal macrophages thus eliminating potential cytoxicity in the host cells. These compounds may be indicated as potential leads in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.