NH2OH-HCl-Mediated Umpolung α-Methylsulfonylation of α-Sulfonyl Ketones with Methylsulfoxides: Synthesis of α,β-Bis-sulfonyl Arylketones

Tandem C- and O-alkylative annulation of β-ketosulfones with 1,2-bisbromomethyl arenes: one-pot construction of sulfonyl indanes and dioxadibenzofused macrocycles

Herein, a tandem synthetic route for constructing sulfonyl indanes and dioxadibenzofused macrocycles is described. This strategy involves a transition-metal-free, base-mediated tandem C- and O-alkylative annulation of β-ketosulfones with 1,2-bisbromomethyl arenes with moderate to excellent yields under open-vessel reaction conditions. In the overall reaction process, two carbon-carbon (C-C) and two carbon-oxygen (C-O) bonds are formed. Various base-promoted reaction conditions are screened for this one-pot easy-to-operate conversion.

Sequential condensation and double desulfonylative cyclopropanation of 1,2-bis(sulfonylmethyl)arenes with 3-arylacroleins: access to biscyclopropane-fused tetralins

Efficient tBuOK-mediated sequential condensation and double desulfonylative cyclopropanation of readily accessible 1,2-bis(sulfonylmethyl)arenes with 3-arylacroleins is described. This high-yielding, single-step strategy provides a variety of polysubstituted biscyclopropane-fused tetralins with six contiguous stereogenic centers via the construction of five carbon-carbon single bonds. A plausible mechanism is proposed and discussed. In the overall reaction process, water and sulfinic acid salts were generated as the byproducts.

A photocatalytic radical relay reaction of 2-methylthiolated phenylalkynones and potassium metabisulfite

The generation of methylsufonyl-containing thioflavones through a radical relay reaction of methylthiolated phenylalkynones and potassium metabisulfite in the presence of sodium methylsulfinate under visible light irradiation is developed.

Tandem cyclocondensation of 1,3-bis-sulfonylpropan-2-ones with arylaldehydes. One-pot synthesis of tris-sulfonyl 3-arylphenols

One-pot tandem piperidinium acetate-mediated cyclocondensation of 1,3-bis-sulfonylpropan-2-ones with arylaldehydes generates tris-sulfonyl 3-arylphenols in moderate to good yields in refluxing toluene under easy-operational reaction conditions.

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.

Convenient Preparation of N-Acylbenzoxazines from Phenols, Nitriles, and DMSO Initiated by a Catalytic Amount of (COCl)2

A convenient preparation method of N-acylbenzoxazines has been developed, in which phenols react with nitriles and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of a catalytic amount of (COCl)₂ in CH₃CN or chloroform to afford the corresponding N-acylbenzoxazines in moderate-to-good yields. DMSO acts as a source of HCHO, which is generated in situ from the decomposition of a methoxydimethylsulfonium salt. A regeneration cycle of the methoxydimethylsulfonium salt is proposed, which is initiated by a catalytic amount of (COCl)₂.

Oxidative Sulfonylation of Hydrazones Enabled by Synergistic Copper/Silver Catalysis

A copper/silver-cocatalyzed protocol for oxidative sulfonylation of hydrazones is demonstrated. A wide range of β-ketosulfones and N-acylsulfonamides are directly synthesized in moderate to good yields. Our work provides a viable method for scalable preparation of β-ketosulfone derivatives that have found wide applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Substrate-induced DMSO activation and subsequent reaction for rapid construction of substituted pyrimidines

A metal-free direct synthesis of pyrimidines from amidine hydrochlorides, ketones and DMSO through substrate-induced DMSO activation and involved reactions has been developed.

MeONH2·HCl-Mediated α-Methylenation/Conjugate Addition of α-Sulfonyl o-Hydroxyacetophenones with Methyl Sulfoxides: Route to 3-Sulfonylchroman-4-ones

A novel and efficient route for the synthesis of 3-sulfonylchroman-4-ones from α-sulfonyl o-hydroxyacetophenones with methyl sulfoxides via a MeONH2·HCl-mediated sequential methylenation/ conjugate­ addition is described. Plausible reaction mechanisms are proposed and discussed. Various reaction conditions for this novel, one-pot, environmentally friendly conversion were investigated.

Acid-Controlled Access to β-Sulfenyl Ketones and α,β-Disulfonyl Ketones by Pummerer Reaction of β-Keto Sulfones and Sulfoxides

A convenient acid-mediated reaction of β-keto sulfones with sulfoxides under metal-free conditions has been developed, thereby delivering the acid-controlled synthesis of β-sulfenyl ketones and α,β-disulfonyl ketones in good to excellent yields. The mechanism of the transformations has been studied carefully, which suggested the involvement of a radical process in the formation of α,β-disulfonyl ketones.

Potassium tert-Butoxide-Mediated Condensation Cascade Reaction: Transition Metal-Free Synthesis of Multisubstituted Aryl Indoles and Benzofurans

An efficient and facile method to synthesize valuable disubstituted 2-aryl indoles and benzofurans in good yields has been demonstrated, based on a tert-butoxide-mediated condensation reaction involving a vinyl sulfoxide intermediate. Products are obtained from N- or O-benzyl benzaldehydes using dimethyl sulfoxide as a carbon source. The methodology features a wide functional group tolerance and transition metal-free environment. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction involves a tandem aldol reaction/Michael addition/dehydrosulfenylation/isomerization sequence through an ionic protocol.