Palladium-mediated synthesis of 1,1,2-triarylethanes. Application to the synthesis of CDP-840

Beyond classical sulfone chemistry: metal- and photocatalytic approaches for C-S bond functionalization of sulfones

The exceptional versatility of sulfones has been extensively exploited in organic synthesis across several decades. Since the first demonstration in 2005 that sulfones can participate in Pd-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura type reactions, tremendous advances in catalytic desulfitative functionalizations have opened a new area of research with burgeoning activity in recent years. This emerging field is displaying sulfone derivatives as a new class of substrates enabling catalytic C-C and C-X bond construction. In this review, we will discuss new facets of sulfone reactivity toward further expanding the flexibility of C-S bonds, with an emphasis on key mechanistic features. The inherent challenges confronting the development of these strategies will be presented, along with the potential application of this chemistry for the synthesis of natural products. Taken together, this knowledge should stimulate impactful improvements on the use of sulfones in catalytic desulfitative C-C and C-X bond formation. A main goal of this article is to bring this technology to the mainstream catalysis practice and to serve as inspiration for new perspectives in catalytic transformations.

Hydrogenation of β-Keto Sulfones to β-Hydroxy Sulfones with Alkyl Aluminum Compounds: Structure of Intermediate Hydroalumination Products

β-Hydroxy sulfones are important in organic synthesis. The simplest method of β-hydroxy sulfones synthesis is the hydrogenation of β-keto sulfones. Herein, we report the reducing properties of alkyl aluminum compounds R₃Al (R = Et, i-Bu, n-Bu, t-Bu and n-Hex); i-Bu₂AlH; Et₂AlCl and EtAlCl₂ in the hydrogenation of β-keto sulfones. The compounds i-Bu₂AlH, i-Bu₃Al and Et₃Al are the at best reducing agents of β-keto sulfones to β-hydroxy sulfones. In reactions of β-keto sulfones with aluminum trialkyls, hydroalumination products with β-hydroxy sulfone ligands [R₂AlOC(C₆H₅)CH₂S(O)₂(p-R¹C₆H₄]_n [where n = 1,2; 2aa: R = i-Bu, R¹ = CH₃; 2ab: R = i-Bu, R¹ = Cl; 2ba: R = Et, R¹ = CH₃; 2bb: R = Et, R¹ = Cl] and {[Et₂AlOC(C₆H₅)CH₂S(O)₂(p-ClC₆H₄]∙Et₃Al}_n3bb were obtained. These complexes in the solid state have a dimeric structure, while in solutions, they appear as equilibrium monomer-dimer mixtures. The hydrolysis of both the isolated 2aa, 2ab, 2ba, 2bb and 3bb and the postreaction mixtures quantitatively leads to pure racemic β-hydroxy sulfones. Hydroalumination reaction of β-keto sulfones with alkyl aluminum compounds and subsequent hydrolysis of the complexes is a simple and very efficient method of β-hydroxy sulfones synthesis.

Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of β-keto sulfones: new prospects for the synthesis of β-keto thiosulfones

This review mainly focuses on recent developments in the preparation of β-keto sulfones and their extensive synthetic applications. New prospects for the synthesis of β-keto thiosulfones have also been highlighted. Over the last decade, there has been exponential growth in the direct construction of β-keto sulfones using a wide variety of keto and sulfonyl precursors. Of note, the most promising photoredox transformations and electrochemical synthesis methods of β-keto sulfones are also presented. Moreover, β-keto sulfones are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis due to their three essential functional groups: sulfonyl, carbonyl, and active methylene moieties. The convenient preparation of β-keto sulfones allows the synthesis of many valuable carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds, and the effortless removal of the sulfonyl moiety via transformations is supported. The chemistry of β-keto sulfones (2013 to present) can be divided into several sections based on the sulfonyl surrogates, and ubiquitous synthetic strategies were systematically outlined.

An efficient approach to access 1,1,2-triarylethanes enabled by the organo-photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative addition reaction

An efficient approach to access 1,1,2-triarylethanes enabled by organo-photoredox-catalyzed decarboxylative 1,6-conjugate addition of carboxylic acids to p-QMs.