Phosphorothioic Acids and Related Compounds as Surrogates for H2S—Synthesis of Chiral Tetrahydrothiophenes

α-Functionalisation of Cyclic Sulfides Enabled by Lithiation Trapping

A general and straightforward procedure for the lithiation trapping of cyclic sulfides such as tetrahydrothiophene, tetrahydrothiopyran and a thiomorpholine is described. Trapping with a wide range of electrophiles is demonstrated, leading to more than 50 diverse α-substituted saturated sulfur heterocycles. The methodology provides access to a range of α-substituted cyclic sulfides that are not easily synthesised by the currently available methods.

Gold-catalyzed alkenylation and arylation of phosphorothioates

Reported herein is the ligand-enabled gold-catalyzed alkenylation and arylation of phosphorothioates using alkenyl and aryl iodides. Mechanistic studies revealed a crucial role of the in situ generated Ag-sulfur complex, which undergoes a facile transmetalation with the Au(iii) intermediate, thereby leading to the successful realization of the present reaction. Moreover, for the first time, the alkenylation of phosphoroselenoates under gold redox catalysis has been presented.

Metal-Free S-Arylation of Phosphorothioate Diesters and Related Compounds with Diaryliodonium Salts

We developed a direct metal-free S-arylation of phosphorothioate diesters using diaryliodonium salts. The method allows for the preparation under simple conditions of a broad range of S-aryl phosphorothioates, including complex molecules (e.g., dinucleotide or TADDOL derivatives), as well as other related organophosphorus compounds arylated at a chalcogen. The reaction proceeds with a full retention of the stereogenic center at the phosphorus atom, opening convenient access to P-chiral products. The mechanism of the reaction was established using DFT calculations.

Metal-Free Regioselective Hydrophosphorodithioation of Spirovinylcyclopropyl Oxindoles: Rapid Access to Allyl Dialkylphosphorodithioates

Phosphorodithioates are important substructures due to their great use in bioactive compounds and functional materials. A metal-free 1,5-addition of spirovinylcyclopropyl oxindoles have been developed by choosing P₄S₁₀ and alcohol as nucleophiles through the regioselective ring-opening of spirovinylcyclopropyl oxindoles. This method provides access to allylic organothiophosphates with high efficiency, wide functional group tolerance, good chemo- and regioselectivity, and E-selectivity. 1,3-Addition products were also prepared in high yield. Furthermore, the resulting organothiophosphates could be readily transformed into other allylic derivatives.

Copper-Catalyzed Multicomponent Trifluoromethylphosphorothiolation of Alkenes: Access to CF3-Containing Alkyl Phosphorothioates

An unprecedented copper-catalyzed multicomponent radical-based reaction involving alkenes, P(O)H compounds, sulfur powder, and Togni reagent II at room temperature has been developed. A variety of highly functionalized CF₃-containing S-alkyl phosphorothioates can be directly prepared from a wide range of activated and unactivated alkenes. Moreover, this protocol highlights its potential in the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules and opens up a new avenue for the construction of C(sp³)-S-P bonds.

Recent synthesis of thietanes

Thietanes are important aliphatic four-membered thiaheterocycles that are found in the pharmaceutical core and structural motifs of some biological compounds. They are also useful intermediates in organic synthesis. Various synthetic methods of thietanes have been developed, including inter- and intramolecular nucleophilic thioetherifications, photochemical [2 + 2] cycloadditions, ring expansions and contractions, nucleophilic cyclizations, and some miscellaneous methods. The recently developed methods provide some new strategies for the efficient preparation of thietanes and their derivatives. This review focuses on the synthetic methods to construct thietane backbones developed during 1966 to 2019.

An investigation into the factors governing the oxidation of two-dimensional Ti3C2 MXene

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides (MXenes) exhibit outstanding performances in many applications, such as energy storage, optoelectronics, and electrocatalysts. However, colloidal solutions of Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes deteriorate rapidly under ambient conditions due to the conversion of the titanium carbide to titanium dioxide. Here, we discuss the dominant factors influencing the rate of oxidation of Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes, and present guidelines for their storage with the aim of maintaining the intrinsic properties of the as-prepared material. The oxidation stability of the Ti3C2Tx flakes is dramatically improved in a system where water molecules and temperature were well-controlled. It was found that aqueous solutions of Ti3C2Tx MXene can be chemically stable for more than 39 weeks when the storage temperature (-80 °C) is sufficiently low to cease the oxidation processes. It was also found that if the Ti3C2Tx flakes are dispersed in ethanol, the degradation process can be significantly delayed even at 5 °C. Moreover, the oxidation stability of the Ti3C2Tx flakes is dramatically improved in both cases, even in the presence of oxygen-containing atmosphere. We demonstrate practical applications of our approach by employing Ti3C2Tx in a gas sensor showing that when oxidation is inhibited, the device can retain the original electrical properties after 5 weeks of storage.

Metal- and base-free reductive coupling reaction of P(O)-H with aryl/alkyl sulfonyl chlorides: a novel protocol for the construction of P-S-C bonds

Novel and efficient synthesis of S-aryl/alkyl phosphinothioates from P(O)-H and aryl/alkyl sulfonyl chlorides under metal- and base-free conditions is described. This reaction provides an alternative strategy for the construction of P-S-C bonds in moderate to excellent yields. Moreover, this method can be readily applied to gram-scale preparation.

Cu(II)/Proline-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Sulfuryl Chloride and P(O)-H for P-S-C Bond Formation

A considerably improved method for the Cu-catalyzed coupling of sulfuryl chloride with P(O)-H was described. Using commercially available l-proline as the ligand decreased the precatalyst loading, broadened the substrate scope and greatly promoted the efficiency of the coupling reaction. Moreover, gram-scale preparation, easy-to handle and recyclable catalyst featured this transformation.

Conversion of Alcohols to Phosphorothiolates Using a Thioiminium Salt as Coupling Agent

We report a method for the direct and rapid conversion of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding phosphorothiolates in yields ranging from 64% to 97%, using as a coupling agent the iminium salt prepared from N,N-dimethylthioformamide and Meerwein's salt. Selective reaction of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols is possible. The reaction of secondary alcohols proceeds stereospecifically with inversion of configuration.

Metal-free Brønsted acid mediated synthesis of fully substituted thiophenes via chemo- and regioselective intramolecular cyclization of α,α′-bis(β-oxodithioesters) at room temperature

Metal-free Brønsted acid mediated synthesis of tetrasubstituted thiophenes via intramolecular cyclization of α,α′-bis(β-oxodithioesters) is devised at room temperature.

Yb(OTf)3 catalyzed [3 + 2] annulations of D–A cyclopropanes with β-oxodithioesters: a regioselective synthesis of tetrahydrothiophenes

An efficient approach to synthesis tetrahydrothiophenes was developed through the reaction of β-oxodithioesters and D–A cyclopropanes catalyzed by Yb(OTf)₃. This methodology was highly regioselective.

Copper(I)-catalyzed multicomponent reaction providing a new access to fully substituted thiophene derivatives

Readily available triethylammonium 1-(2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene)-2-aroylethanethiolates are efficiently converted into a variety of fully substituted thiophene derivatives by copper(I)-catalyzed denitrogenative reactions with terminal alkynes and N-sulfonyl azides. This new reaction simultaneously installs C-N, C-S, and C-C bonds, allowing direct formation of highly functionalized thiophenes with a wide diversity in substituents in a one-pot manner. A plausible mechanism for the domino process is proposed.

Intramolecular [1,4]-S- to O-silyl migration: a useful strategy for synthesizing Z-silyl enol ethers with diverse thioether linkages

An intramolecular [1,4]-S- to O-silyl migration has been used to form silyl enol ethers with Z-configurational control. The silyl migration also creates a new anion center at sulfur, which can subsequently react with electrophiles to generate Z-silyl enol ethers with diverse thioether linkages. The synthetic utility of this pathway was demonstrated by modifying the Z-silyl enol ethers with aldehydes via a Mukaiyama aldol reaction or Prins cyclization to generate functionalized organosulfur compounds.

Practical and highly selective sulfur ylide-mediated asymmetric epoxidations and aziridinations using a cheap and readily available chiral sulfide: extensive studies to map out scope, limitations, and rationalization of diastereo- and enantioselectivities

The chiral sulfide, isothiocineole, has been synthesized in one step from elemental sulfur, γ-terpinene, and limonene in 61% yield. A mechanism involving radical intermediates for this reaction is proposed based on experimental evidence. The application of isothiocineole to the asymmetric epoxidation of aldehydes and the aziridination of imines is described. Excellent enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities have been obtained over a wide range of aromatic, aliphatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes using simple protocols. In aziridinations, excellent enantioselectivities and good diastereoselectivities were obtained for a wide range of imines. Mechanistic models have been put forward to rationalize the high selectivities observed, which should enable the sulfide to be used with confidence in synthesis. In epoxidations, the degree of reversibility in betaine formation dominates both the diastereoselectivity and the enantioselectivity. Appropriate tuning of reaction conditions based on understanding the reaction mechanism enables high selectivities to be obtained in most cases. In aziridinations, betaine formation is nonreversible with semistabilized ylides and diastereoselectivities are determined in the betaine forming step and are more variable as a result.

Recent developments of ketene dithioacetal chemistry

Ketene dithioacetals are versatile intermediates in organic synthesis. Extensive research, since the last decade, has given rise to new prospects in their chemistry. The objective of this review is twofold: first, to highlight the new prospects in the chemistry of functionalized ketene dithioacetals, and second, to provide an intrinsic link between ketene dithioacetal groups and a variety of other functional groups, which has brought out many new facts that will assist in future designs.

Palladium-catalyzed allylic fluorination of cinnamyl phosphorothioate esters

A highly regioselective, Pd-catalyzed allylic fluorination of phosphorothioate esters is reported. This chemistry addresses several limitations of previously reported methods in which elimination and lack of reactivity were problematic. Preliminary mechanistic investigations reveal that these reactions are stereospecific and provide fluorinated products with net retention of stereochemical configuration. In analogy to other Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions, this process likely proceeds through a palladium π-allyl intermediate.

Synthesis of sulfur-containing heterocycles through oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization

Vinyl sulfides react rapidly and efficiently with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) to form α,β-unsaturated thiocarbenium ions through oxidative carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage. These electrophiles couple with appended π-nucleophiles to yield sulfur-containing heterocycles through carbon-carbon bond formation. Several nucleophiles are compatible with the procedure, and the reactions generally proceed through readily predictable transition states.