Electrochemical radical arylsulfonylation/semipinacol rearrangement sequences of alkenylcyclobutanols: Synthesis of β-sulfonated cyclic ketones

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.

The Application of Sulfonyl Hydrazides in Electrosynthesis: A Review of Recent Studies

Sulfonyl hydrazides are viewed as alternatives to sulfinic acids and their salts or sulfonyl halides, which are broadly used in organic synthesis or work as active pharmaceutical substances. Generally, sulfonyl hydrazides are considered good building blocks and show powerful value in a diverse range of reactions to construct C-S bonds or C-C bonds, and even C-N bonds as sulfur, carbon, or nitrogen sources, respectively. As a profound synthetic tool, the electrosynthesis method was recently used to achieve efficient and green applications of sulfonyl hydrazides. Interestingly, many unique and novel electrochemical syntheses using sulfonyl hydrazides as radical precursors have been developed, including cascade reactions, functionalization of heterocycles, as well as a continuous flow method combining with electrochemical synthesis since 2017. Accordingly, it is necessary to specifically summarize the recent developments of electrosynthesis with only sulfonyl hydrazides as radical precursors to more deeply understand and better design novel electrochemical synthesis reactions. Herein, electrosynthesis research using sulfonyl hydrazides as radical precursors since 2017 is reviewed in detail based on the chemical structures of products and reaction mechanisms.

Progress in the Electrochemical Reactions of Sulfonyl Compounds

Electrosynthesis has recently attracted more and more attention due to its great potential to replace chemical oxidants or reductants in molecule-electrode electron transfer. Sulfonyl compounds such as sulfonyl hydrazides, sulfinic acids (and their salts), sulfonyl halides have been discovered as practical precursors of several radicals. As electrochemical redox reactions can provide green and efficient pathways for the activation of sulfonyl compounds, studies for electrosynthesis have rapidly increased. Several types of radicals can be generated from anodic oxidation or cathodic reduction of sulfonyl compounds and can initiate fluoroalkylation, benzenesulfonylation, cyclization or rearrangement. In this Review, we summarize the electrosynthesis developments involving sulfonyl compounds mainly in the last decade.

Organic Sulfinic Acids and Salts in Visible Light-Induced Reactions

Sulfinic acids and their salts are a useful source of sulfur-containing structures. Photocatalysis of these compounds with visible light enables to achieve various transformations under mild conditions. This review summarizes visible-light-induced reactions of sulfinic acids and their salts. It is organized by reaction type and brief discussions on plausible reaction mechanisms for typical transformations are presented.

1 Introduction

2 Sulfonylation Reactions

2.1 Sulfonylation of Alkenes

2.2 Sulfonylation of Alkynes

2.3 Sulfonylation of Arenes

2.4 sp3 C–H Functionalization

3 Desulfonylation Reactions

4 Sulfenylation Reactions

4.1 Sulfenylation of Heteroarenes

4.2 Sulfenylation of Carbonyl Chlorides

5 Conclusions

Photons or Electrons? A Critical Comparison of Electrochemistry and Photoredox Catalysis for Organic Synthesis

Redox processes are at the heart of synthetic methods that rely on either electrochemistry or photoredox catalysis, but how do electrochemistry and photoredox catalysis compare? Both approaches provide access to high energy intermediates (e.g., radicals) that enable bond formations not constrained by the rules of ionic or 2 electron (e) mechanisms. Instead, they enable 1e mechanisms capable of bypassing electronic or steric limitations and protecting group requirements, thus enabling synthetic chemists to disconnect molecules in new and different ways. However, while providing access to similar intermediates, electrochemistry and photoredox catalysis differ in several physical chemistry principles. Understanding those differences can be key to designing new transformations and forging new bond disconnections. This review aims to highlight these differences and similarities between electrochemistry and photoredox catalysis by comparing their underlying physical chemistry principles and describing their impact on electrochemical and photochemical methods.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Sulfonyl Fluorides from Sulfonyl Hydrazides

The synthesis of sulfonyl fluorides via the reaction of sulfonyl hydrazides and Et3N3HF under electrochemical conditions is reported. Various sulfonyl fluorides were obtained in good yields under a constant current...

Electrochemical sulfonylation of enamides with sodium sulfinates to access β-amidovinyl sulfones

The electrochemical sulfonylation of enamides with sodium sulfinates was developed in an undivided cell in constant current mode, leading to the formation of β-amidovinyl sulfones in moderate to good yields. The catalyst-, electrolyte- and oxidant-free protocol features good functional group tolerance and employs electric current as a green oxidant. Mechanistic insights into the reaction indicate that the reaction may proceed via a radical mechanism.

Unconventional approaches for the introduction of sulfur-based functional groups

Organosulfur compounds have a pivotal role in the functionalities of many natural products, pharmaceuticals and organic materials. For these reasons, the search for new methodologies for the formation of carbon-sulfur bonds has been the object of intensive work for organic chemists. However, the proposed strategies suffer from various drawbacks, such as volatility, toxicity, and instability of the sulfur sources or the use of VOC solvents. In this review, we summarise the recent protocols which have the goal of obtaining sulfones, thioethers, thiazines, thiazepines and sulfonamides in an unconventional and/or sustainable way. The use of starting materials less invasive and toxic with respect to the traditional reagents, alternative solvents such as water, ionic liquids or deep eutectic solvents, the exploitation of ultrasound and electrochemistry, increasing the efficiency of the process, are reported. Moreover, representative reaction mechanisms are also discussed.

Recent development and applications of semipinacol rearrangement reactions

As has been well-recognized, semipinacol rearrangement functions as an exceptionally useful methodology in the synthesis of β-functionalized ketones, creation of quaternary carbon centers, and construction of challenging carbocycles. Due to their versatile utilities in organic synthesis, development of novel rearrangement reactions has been a vibrant topic that continues to shape the research field. Recent breakthroughs in novel electrophiles, tandem processes, and enantioselective catalytic transformations further enrich the toolbox of this chemistry and spur the strategic applications of this methodology in natural product synthesis. These achievements will be discussed in this minireview.

Electrochemical rearrangement protocols towards the construction of diverse molecular frameworks

Rearrangement reactions constitute a critical facet of synthetic organic chemistry and demonstrate an attractive way to take advantage of existing structures to access various important molecular frameworks. Electroorganic chemistry has emerged as an environmentally benign approach to carry out organic transformations by directly employing an electric current and avoids the use of stoichiometric chemical oxidants. The last few years have witnessed a resurgence of electroorganic chemistry that has promoted a renaissance of interest in the development of novel redox electroorganic transformations. This review manifests the evolution of electrosynthesis in the area of rearrangement chemistry and covers the achievements in the field of migration, ring expansion, and rearrangements along with the mechanisms involved.

Progress and perspectives of electrochemical insights for C–H and N–H sulfonylation

A comprehensive electrosulfonylation study has been carried out via cathodic and anodic approaches for the production of organosulfone and sulfonamide derivatives.

Electrochemical sulfonylation of alkenes with sulfonyl hydrazides: a metal- and oxidant-free protocol for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones in water

An electrochemical sulfonylation of alkenes with sulfonyl hydrazides for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones in water is reported.

The synthesis of sulfonated 4H-3,1-benzoxazines via an electro-chemical radical cascade cyclization

We achieved sulfonated 4H-3,1-benzoxazines under ambient conditions without any metals and external chemical oxidants via electrochemical radical cascade cyclizations.