Recent trends in incorporation of CO2 into organosulfur compounds via C-S bond cleavage

Desulfurative functionalization of organosulfur compounds to form various carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds has become established as a powerful tool in organic chemistry. In this context, desulfurative carboxylation of this class of compounds using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a sustainable and renewable source of carboxyl has recently been developed as an efficient option for the synthesis of carboxylic acid derivatives. The aim of this Focus Review is to summarize the major progress in this appealing research field with particular emphasis on the mechanistic features of the reactions. Literature has been surveyed until the end of February 2024, according to the data collected using SciFinder and Google Scholar engines.

Tuning Supramolecular Polymer Assembly through Stereoelectronic Interactions

The supramolecular polymerization of 2,11-dithia[3.3]paracyclophanes through self-complementary intermolecular and transannular amide hydrogen bonding is presented. An n → π* interaction between the amide hydrogen bonding units and the central bridging atom results from the single-point exchange of a carbon atom for a sulfur atom. This orbital donor-acceptor interaction can be strengthened by oxidizing the sulfide to a sulfone which acts to shorten the donor···acceptor distance and increase orbital overlap. Experimental signatures of the increased n → π* interaction include larger isodesmic polymerization elongation constants in solution, changes in characteristic bond stretching frequencies, and geometric/structural changes evaluated by X-ray crystallography. The experimental data are supported by extensive computational investigations of both assembling and nonassembling 2,11-dithia[3.3]paracyclophanes as well as a rationally designed model system to confirm the role of stereoelectronic effects on supramolecular polymer assembly.