A Protocol To Transform Sulfones into Nitrones and Aldehydes

Ring-Opening Sulfonylation of Cyclic Sulfonium Salts with Sodium Sulfinates under Transition-Metal- and Additive-Free Conditions

Incorporating a sulfonyl group into parent molecules has been shown to effectively improve their synthetic applications and bioactivities. In this study, we present a straightforward and practical approach for the ring-opening reaction of alkenyl-aryl sulfonium salts with sodium sulfinates to produce a range of sulfur-containing alkyl sulfones. This method offers the benefits of mild reaction conditions, easily accessible raw materials, wide substrate applicability, good functional group compatibility, and operational simplicity. Importantly, the resulting products can be readily converted into sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfoximines, and some heterocyclic compounds.

C(sp3)-H (N-Phenyltetrazole)thiolation as an Enabling Tool for Molecular Diversification

Methods enabling the broad diversification of C(sp3)-H bonds from a common intermediate are especially valuable in chemical synthesis. Herein, we report a site-selective (N-phenyltetrazole)thiolation of aliphatic and (hetero)benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds using a commercially available disulfide to access N-phenyltetrazole thioethers. The thioether products are readily elaborated in diverse fragment couplings for C-C, C-O, or C-N construction. The C-H functionalization proceeds via a radical-chain pathway involving hydrogen atom transfer by the electron-poor N-phenyltetrazolethiyl radical. Hexafluoroisopropanol was found to be essential to reactions involving aliphatic C(sp3)-H thiolation, with computational analysis consistent with dual hydrogen bonding of the N-phenyltetrazolethiyl radical imparting increased radical electrophilicity to facilitate the hydrogen atom transfer. Substrate is limiting reagent in all cases, and the reaction displays an exceptional functional group tolerance well suited to applications in late-stage diversification.

The Synthesis and Base-Induced Breakdown of Triaryl 1,4-Oxathiins-An Experimental and DFT Study

1,4-Oxathiins are valued for a breadth of bioactivities and are known commercial fungicides. This article explores a novel preparation of 2,3,6-trisubstituted 1,4-oxathiin-S,S-dioxides via the reaction of benzyl 1-alkynyl sulfones and aryl aldehydes under basic conditions. A total of 20 examples possessing exclusively a trans arrangement of the 2,3-diaryl substituents are exhibited; the products demonstrate a variation of functional groups on the aryl ring attached to the heterocyclic ring system. The preparation is hindered by the base sensitivity of the products, and a ring-opened by-product typically contaminates the reaction mixture. A DFT assessment of the overall system includes a lithium counterion and offers possible pathways for the incorporation of the aldehyde, the cyclization step and the requisite proton transfers. In addition, the DFT work reveals options for the ring opening chemistry. It appears the trans 2,3-diaryl selectivity is set during the cyclization stage of the reaction sequence. The practical work uncovers a new reaction pathway to create a family of novel 1,4-oxathiin-S,S-dioxides whereas the computational work offers an understanding of the structures and possible mechanisms involved.

Dehydroxylative Sulfonylation of Alcohols

Described here is the R₃P/ICH₂CH₂I-promoted dehydroxylative sulfonylation of alcohols with a variety of sulfinates. In contrast to previous dehydroxylative sulfonylation methods, which are usually limited to active alcohols, such as benzyl, allyl, and propargyl alcohols, our protocol can be extended to both active and inactive alcohols (alkyl alcohols). Various sulfonyl groups can be incorporated, such as CF₃SO₂ and HCF₂SO₂, which are fluorinated groups of interest in pharmaceutical chemistry and the installation of which has received increasing attention. Notably, all reagents are cheap and widely available, and moderate to high yields were obtained within 15 min of reaction time.

Synthesis of ArCF2X and [18F]Ar-CF3 via Cleavage of the Trifluoromethylsulfonyl Group

A versatile synthesis of ArCF₂X and [¹⁸F]Ar-CF₃ type compounds from readily available ArCF₂SO₂CF₃ has been developed. Diverse nucleophiles, including weak nucleophiles such as halides (¹⁸F^-, Cl^-, Br^-, and I^-), RSH, and ROH, could react with ArCF₂SO₂CF₃ efficiently to give the corresponding difluoromethylene products. The control experiments and the Hammett plot indicated that the reaction might proceed through a difluorocarbocation intermediate generated from the steric hindrance-assisted cleavage of the trifluoromethylsulfonyl group.

Chemo-, regio- and stereoselective synthesis of monofluoroalkenes via a tandem fluorination-desulfonation sequence

A widely applicable approach for the synthesis of Z-monofluoroalkenes from readily available alkyl triflones and NFSI has been reported. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions, affording mono-fluorinated alkenes in good to excellent yields with excellent chemo- regio- and stereoselectivity. The mechanism may involve electrophilic fluorination of triflones followed by the highly stereoselective concerted bimolecular elimination (E2) of CF3SO2H.

Base promoted gem-difluoroolefination of alkyl triflones

A new synthesis of gem-difluoroalkenes from readily available alkyl triflones and difluorocarbene precursors such as TMSCF₂Br has been reported. The reaction, regardless of electronic effect, gives gem-difluoroalkenes in good to excellent yields. The mechanism may involve deprotonation of triflones, nucleophilic addition, and the elimination of SO₂CF₃.

Single-Step Approach toward Nitrones via Pyridinium Ylides: The DMAP-Catalyzed Reaction of Benzyl Halides with Nitrosoarenes

A single-step approach is reported for the preparation of nitrones from benzyl halides and nitrosoarenes via pyridinium ylides, utilizing 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalyst and mild reaction conditions (Li₂CO₃, dimethylacetamide, and room temperature). The reaction provides both keto- and aldonitrones in high yields with a wide scope for benzyl halides and nitrosoarenes. In the same reaction system, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane, which does not have an aryl group, also affords the corresponding N-tert-butyl nitrones from primary benzyl bromides that have an electron-withdrawing group. As an application of the reaction, methyl 2-bromo-2-phenylacetate was used to prepare the corresponding isoxazolidine by a sequential one-pot synthesis.

A fluorescent sensor for selective detection of hypochlorite and its application in Arabidopsis thaliana

Hypochlorite, as one of reactive oxygen species, has drawn much attention due to its essential roles in special biological events and disorders. The exogenous hypochlorite remains a risk for human, animals and plants. In this work, a novel water soluble quinolin-containing nitrone derivative T has been developed for fluorometric sensing hypochlorite. The response mechanism of T towards ClO^- was reported for the first time. In comparison with the reported sensors for ClO^-, the sensor T in this work exhibited advantages including high selectivity (80 fold over other analytes), rapid response (within 5 s) and lipid-water distribution transformation (LogP from 2.979 to 6.131). Further biological applications suggested that T was capable of monitoring both exogenous and endogenous ClO^- in living cells. The imaging in Arabidopsis thaliana indicated that the absorption and transmission of ClO^- in plant could be monitored by this sensor through the chlorine-related mechanism. This work might raise referable information for further investigations in the physiological and pathological events in both tumor and plants.

A Study of Graphene-Based Copper Catalysts: Copper(I) Nanoplatelets for Batch and Continuous-Flow Applications

The use of graphene derivatives as supports improves the properties of heterogeneous catalysts, with graphene oxide (GO) being the most frequently employed. To explore greener possibilities as well as to get some insights into the role of the different graphenic supports (GO, rGO, carbon black, and graphite nanoplatelets), we prepared, under the same standard conditions, a variety of heterogeneous Cu catalysts and systematically evaluated their composition and catalytic activity in azide-alkyne cycloadditions as a model reaction. The use of sustainable graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) afforded a stable Cu^I catalyst with good recyclability properties, which are compatible with flow conditions, and able to catalyze other reactions such as the regio- and stereoselective sulfonylation of alkynes (addition reaction) and the Meerwein arylation (single electron transfer process).