One-Pot Synthesis of β-Hydroxysulfones and Its Application in the Preparation of Anticancer Drug Bicalutamide

A bioactive sprite: Recent advances in the application of vinyl sulfones in drug design and organic synthesis

Vinyl sulfones, with their exceptional chemical properties, are known as the "chameleons" of organic synthesis and are widely used in the preparation of various sulfur-containing structures. However, their most alluring feature lies in their biological activity. The vinyl sulfone skeleton is ubiquitous in natural products and drug molecules and boasts a unique molecular structure and drug activity when compared to conventional drug molecules. As a result, vinyl sulfones have been extensively studied, playing a critical role in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical chemistry. In this review, we present a comprehensive analysis of the recent applications of vinyl sulfone structures in drug design, biology, and chemical synthesis. Furthermore, we explore the prospects of vinyl sulfones in diverse fields, offering insight into their potential future applications.

A visible-light-catalyzed sulfonylation reaction of an aryl selenonium salt via an electron donor-acceptor complex

An efficient synthesis of sulfone structures through selenonium salts and sodium sulfinates was developed. Under the irradiation of a blue LED lamp, the two substrates generate aryl and sulfonyl radicals through the activation of the intermediate electron donor acceptor (EDA) complex, thereby synthesizing aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic sulfones in medium to good yields. The advantages of this strategy are metal-free, mild conditions and the leaving group is recycled to construct new selenonium salts.

Photocatalytic Sulfonyl Peroxidation of Alkenes via Deamination of N-Sulfonyl Ketimines

A photocatalytic three-component sulfonyl peroxidation of alkenes with N-sulfonyl ketimines and tert-butyl hydroperoxide is reported. The reaction takes place via the photoinduced EnT process, which allows the efficient synthesis of a variety of β-peroxyl sulfones under mild reaction conditions in the absence of a transition metal catalyst. The downstream derivatizations of the peroxides were also performed. Furthermore, the utility of this protocol was manifested by the synthesis of 11β-HSD1 inhibitor and the antiprostate cancer drug bicalutamide.

A review study on green synthesis of chitosan derived schiff bases and their applications

Chitosan is a bio-degradable, bio-compatible, non-toxic, and renewable biopolymer. The reactive amino group of chitosan has gained importance because using these amino groups can help achieve the different types of structural modification in chitosan. Chemical modification of chitosan via imine functionalization results in the formation of a chitosan Schiff base. The present review covers the green synthesis of chitosan Schiff bases using non-conventional green methods such as microwave irradiation, green solvent, ultrasound irradiation, and one-pot synthesis. These methods are energy-efficient and greener versions of the conventional condensation methods. Scientists have paid significant attention to the chitosan Schiff base because of its unique properties and versatility. These molecules display various biological applications, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antibacterial, and anti-fungal. In addition to biological applications, chitosan Schiff base also has other applications like corrosion inhibition, catalysis, metal ion adsorption, and as a sensor. Available literature particularly shows the different methods for the synthesis of chitosan Schiff bases and their different applications. This review gives detailed insight regarding sustainable approaches to the synthesis of chitosan derived Schiff bases and their applications in various emerging fields.

Dioxygen concentration-dependent selective hydroxysulfonylation of olefins by rose bengal-sensitized photocatalysis

The synthesis of β-hydroxysulfones selectively in preference to β-ketosulfones by dye-sensitized photocatalysis is demonstrated by employing inexpensive and readily available olefins and sulfonyl hydrazides/N-hydroxy sulfonamides in the presence of oxygen. The facile hydroxysulfonylation reaction, which involves the use of rose bengal (RB) as a photocatalyst and dioxygen as an oxidant, permits access selectively to secondary and tertiary β-hydroxysulfones in good to excellent isolated yields at rt and is compatible with aryl, heteroaryl and alkyl sulfonyl hydrazides. Mechanistically, sulfonyl radicals are generated by a cascade of redox reactions, set off by the photocatalyst RB, between sulfonyl hydrazide and dioxygen. Attack of the sulfonyl radicals on olefins followed by oxygenation of the radical intermediates leads to hydroxysulfonylation products selectively without the requirement of a metal catalyst/additive/reductant/base, conforming to the tenets of sustainable chemistry. It is shown that the formations of β-hydroxysulfones and β-ketosulfones proceed concurrently through two different routes and that the outcome is crucially dependent on oxygen concentration with the former being formed predominantly under an oxygen atmosphere, a feature that is heretofore unprecedented to the best of our knowledge.

Redox-Controlled Shunts in a Synthetic Chemical Reaction Cycle

Shunts, alternative pathways in chemical reaction networks (CRNs), are ubiquitous in nature, enabling adaptability to external and internal stimuli. We introduce a CRN in which the recovery of Michael-accepting species is driven by oxidation chemistry. Using weak oxidants can enable access to two shunts within this CRN with different kinetics and a reduced number of side reactions compared to the main cycle that is driven by strong oxidants. Furthermore, we introduce a strategy to recycle one of the main products under flow conditions to partially reverse the CRN and control product speciation throughout time. These findings introduce new levels of control over artificial CRNs, driven by redox chemistry, narrowing the gap between synthetic and natural systems.

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.

External oxidant-free and selective thiofunctionalization of alkenes enabled by photoredox-neutral catalysis

A photoredox approach was reported to realize a highly selective three-component thiohydroxylation, thioalkoxylation and thioamination of vinylarenes towards valuable vicinal S,O- and S,N-disubstituted molecules under mild conditions.

Solvent-mediated switching between oxidative addition and addition–oxidation: access to β-hydroxysulfides and β-arylsulfones by the addition of thiols to olefins in the presence of Oxone

Solvent-switching allows formation of either β-hydroxy-2-arylethyl aryl sulfides or 2-arylethyl aryl sulfones exclusively in thiol–ene ‘click’ reactions conducted with Oxone.

An iron-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of cycloketone oxime esters, alkenes, DABCO·(SO2)2 and trimethylsilyl azide

The synthesis of β-azidosulfones starting from alkenes, cycloketone oxime esters, trimethylsilyl azide and a sulfur dioxide surrogate of DABCO·(SO2)2 under iron catalysis is developed.

Recent Progress and Emerging Technologies towards a Sustainable Synthesis of Sulfones

Sulfones play a pivotal role in modern organic chemistry. They are highly versatile building blocks and find various applications as drugs, agrochemicals, or functional materials. Therefore, sustainable access to this class of molecules is of great interest. Herein, the goal was to provide a summary on recent developments in the field of sustainable sulfone synthesis. Advances and existing limitations in traditional approaches towards sulfones were reviewed on selected examples. Furthermore, novel emerging technologies for a more sustainable sulfone synthesis and future directions were discussed.

Switchable Synthesis of Sulfoxides and α-Alkoxy-β-ketothioethers Regulated by Temperature in a Selectfluor-Methanol System

A switchable and benign protocol for chemoselective synthesis of sulfoxides and α-alkoxy-β-ketothioethers has been developed. It was determined that various thiophenols and alkenes/alkynes are compatible to realize the target compounds from a medium to a high yield by regulating the reaction temperature. In particular, methanol not only served as a solvent but also participated in the reaction process as a hydrogen donor. In this study, Selectfluor has been proved to be an efficient multifunctional reagent in the reaction system.

Light-Promoted and Tertiary-Amine-Assisted Hydroxysulfenylation of Alkenes: Selective and Direct One-Pot Synthesis of β-Hydroxysulfides

A light-promoted and tertiary-amine-assisted strategy for efficient hydroxysulfenylation of both electron-rich and electron-deficient alkenes with thiophenols to selectively and directly access β-hydroxysulfides in one pot is described herein. In contrast to the previously reported thiol-oxygen co-oxidation reactions, this simple and sustainable approach features mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, and excellent functional group tolerance.

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.

Hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes: an update

The direct difunctionalization of inexpensive and widely available alkenes has been recognized as a strong and straightforward tool for the rapid fabrication of complex molecules and pharmaceutical targets by introducing two different functional groups on adjacent carbon atoms of common alkene moieties in a single operation. This synthetic strategy avoids the purification and isolation of the intermediates and thus makes synthetic schemes shorter, simpler and cleaner. In this family of reactions, the hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes has emerged as an increasingly promising strategy for the synthesis of β-hydroxysulfones, which are found in many biologically important molecules and widespread applications in organic synthesis. The objective of this review is to illustrate the advancements in the field of hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes with special emphasis on the mechanistic details of the reaction pathways.

The direct difunctionalization of alkenes recognized as a straightforward tool for the rapid fabrication of complex molecules and pharmaceutical targets by introducing two different functional groups on adjacent carbon atoms of common alkene moieties.

Copper-catalyzed redox-neutral regioselective chlorosulfonylation of vinylarenes

A simple Cu(OTf)₂-catalyzed alkene chlorosulfonylation reaction is developed.

Sulfated tungstate/dioxygen: a new catalytic system for oxysulfonylation of styrenes to form β-keto sulfones

A new green cat./O₂ oxidation system is mild, safe, heterogeneous, simple to make, stable, noncorrosive, produces N₂ as by product, and has an easy to recover–reuse catalyst and wide substrate scope.

Electrochemical oxidative C-H/S-H cross-coupling between enamines and thiophenols with H2 evolution

Electrochemical oxidative C-H/S-H cross-coupling has been developed to construct the C-S bond in a highly straightforward and efficient manner. Various enamines and (hetero)aryl thiols could be transformed smoothly under undivided electrolytic cell conditions. Moreover, this electrosynthesis strategy not only avoided the use of chemical oxidants and transition metal catalysts, but also exhibited excellent atom economy.

I2/TBHP-Mediated tandem cyclization and oxidation reaction: Facile access to 2-substituted thiazoles and benzothiazoles

The efficient synthesis of 2-substituted thiazoles and benzothiazoles has been accomplished employing readily available cysteine esters and 2-aminobenzenethiols as N and S sources.

Visible-light-promoted hydroxysulfonylation of alkylidenecyclopropanes: synthesis of cyclopropane-containing β-hydroxysulfones

Cyclopropane-containing β-hydroxysulfones and cyclopropyl styrenes have been synthesised from readily available ACPs and sulfuryl chloride via visible-light photoredox catalysis.

Temperature-dependent synthesis of vinyl sulfones and β-hydroxy sulfones from t-butylsulfinamide and alkenes under aerobic conditions

A novel strategy was developed for the synthesis of organic sulfones using t-butylsulfinamide as a sulfur source.

Aerobic conversion of benzylic sp3 C–H in diphenylmethanes and benzyl ethers to CO bonds under catalyst-, additive- and light-free conditions

Catalyst-, additive- and light-free aerobic conversion of benzylic C–H to CO bonds is, for the first time, reported.

Synthesis of β-hydroxysulfones through a copper(ii)-catalyzed multicomponent reaction with the insertion of sulfur dioxide

A copper(ii)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative reaction of arylhydrazines, DABCO·(SO₂)₂ and alkenes is reported. Diverse β-hydroxysulfones are generated in moderate to good yields through the hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes with the insertion of sulfur dioxide under mild conditions. In some cases, β-ketosulfones are produced.

Substrate-switched dual functionalization of alkenes: catalyst-free synthetic route for β-hydroxy and β-keto thioethers

A substrate-controlled dual functionalization of alkenes under catalyst-free and solvent-free conditions to provide β-hydroxy thioethers and β-keto thioethers is described.

FeCl3-Catalyzed Regio-Divergent Carbosulfenylation of Unactivated Alkenes: Construction of a Medium-Sized Ring

A FeCl₃-catalyzed regio-divergent carbosulfenylation of unactivated alkenes with electrophilic N-sulfenophthalimides has been developed. This protocol provides a straightforward and efficient access to various medium-sized rings, especially strained 7- and 8-membered carborings with a sulfur atom attached. The endo/exo selectivity in the reaction depends on the atom number of the chain between arene and alkene. Broad substrate scope, high yields, and gram-scale synthesis exemplified the utility and practicability of this protocol. In addition, this methodology can be extended to the carboselenylation of isolated alkenes.

Air promoted annulation of thiophenols with alkynes leading to benzothiophenes

Air promoted intermolecular annulation of thiophenols with alkynes, leading to complex benzothiophenes, is reported.

Auto-oxidation promoted sp3 C–H arylation of glycine derivatives

An auto-oxidation promoted sp³ C–H arylation reaction between N-aryl glycine derivatives and electron-rich arenes, leading to the formation of N-aryl α-aryl α-amino acid derivatives, is described. This atom-economical and environmentally benign reaction proceeds smoothly under mild reaction conditions and requires only Brønsted acid and oxygen (balloon). A plausible radical involved mechanism is proposed.