Lewis base-catalyzed asymmetric sulfenylation of alkenes: construction of sulfenylated lactones and application to the formal syntheses of (-)-nicotlactone B and (-)-galbacin

A Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrolactonization

Despite recent advancements in the development of catalytic asymmetric electrophile induced lactonization reactions of olefinic carboxylic acids, the archetypical hydrolactonization has long remained an unsolved and well-recognized challenge. Here, we report the realization of a catalytic asymmetric hydrolactonization using a confined imidodiphosphorimidate (IDPi) Brønsted acid catalyst. The method is operationally simple, scalable, and compatible with a wide variety of substrates. Its potential is showcased with concise syntheses of the sesquiterpenes (-)-boivinianin A and (+)-gossonorol. Through in-depth physicochemical and DFT analyses, we derive a nuanced picture of the mechanism and enantioselectivity of this reaction.

Three-Component Oxychalcogenation of Alkenes under Metal-Free Conditions: A Tetrabutylammonium Tribromide-Catalyzed System

A three-component oxychalcogenation reaction, from alkenes, diselenides/thiophenols, and H₂O/alcohols, has been realized herein. Tetrabutylammonium tribromide (TBATB) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) are utilized as the catalyst and the terminal oxidant, respectively, to enable this difunctionalization transformation. The metal-free reaction system shows good functional group compatibility, providing a unified and practical approach to access β-hydroxyl or β-alkoxy organochalcogenides.

Electrophilic Thiocyanation of Tryptamine Derivatives: Divergent Synthesis of SCN-Containing Indole Compounds

A tandem dearomative electrophilic thiocyanation/cyclization/acylation of indoles was developed for the first time, which is enabled by acyl chloride. A variety of 3-SCN pyrroloindolines were obtained with moderate to excellent yields. Interestingly, replacement of acyl chloride with methanesulfonic acid, 2-SCN tryptamines were obtained using the same starting substrates and reagents. Furthermore, catalytic enantioselective manner of thiocyanation/cyclization/acylation reaction was also studied. An enantiomer self-disproportionation effect of 3-SCN pyrroloindolines was discovered. A series of chiral 3-SCN pyrroloindolines were obtained with high enantioselectivities.

Enantioselective Inter- and Intramolecular Sulfenofunctionalization of Unactivated Cyclic and (Z)-Alkenes

A method for the enantioselective, Lewis base-catalyzed sulfenofunctionalization of cyclic and (Z)-alkenes is reported. The intermediate thiiranium ion generated in the presence of a selenophosphoramide catalyst is intercepted by a variety of nucleophiles. A diverse array of inter- and intramolecular functionalizations proceed in high yield and good to high enantioselectivity (86:14-98:2 er). Prior experimental and computational studies indicated such enantiotopic face discrimination to be poor; however, the results disclosed herein remediate the previous findings. Control experiments were performed to investigate the different behavior of (Z)-alkenes and their more established (E)-counterparts.

Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Electrophilic Thiocyanation of Indoles: Access to SCN-Containing Aryl-Indole Compounds

A phosphoric acid catalyzed electrophilic thiocyanation of 3-aryl indoles, which provides an efficient and modular approach to SCN-containing 3-aryl indole compounds, was developed for the first time. A variety of 2-SCN-3-aryl indoles were obtained with moderate to excellent yields. Furthermore, catalytic asymmetric manner of this reaction was also studied. Using chiral phosphoric acid as the catalyst, axially chiral SCN-containing 3-aryl indoles were obtained in moderate to good yields with moderate enantioselectivity.

Chiral Selenide/Achiral Sulfonic Acid Cocatalyzed Atroposelective Sulfenylation of Biaryl Phenols via a Desymmetrization/Kinetic Resolution Sequence

Enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral sulfur-containing biaryl derivatives through the electrophilic sulfenylation of biaryl phenols has been achieved for the first time. This catalytic asymmetric system, which involves sequential desymmetrization and kinetic resolution, is enabled by a combination of a novel 3,3'-disubstituted BINOL-derived selenide catalyst and an achiral sulfonic acid. Control experiments and computational studies suggest that multiple noncovalent interactions between the cocatalysts and substrate, especially a network of hydrogen bond interactions, play a crucial role in determining the enantioselectivity and reactivity.

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.

Catalytic enantioselective oxysulfenylation of o-vinylanilides

Tf₂NH-assisted BINAM-derived thiophosphoramide catalysis has been accomplished for the enantioselective oxysulfenylation of o-vinylanilides with N-(aryl/alkylthio)imides. The developed reaction offers access to diverse substituted aryl/alkylthio tethered 3,1-benzoxazines in excellent yields and enantiomeric ratios. Furthermore, synthetic applications of benzoxazines and aryl/alkylthio moieties and a transition state model for the observed enantioselectivity are also discussed.

Catalytic Electrophilic Thiocarbocyclization of Allenes

An efficient approach via catalytic electrophilic thiocarbocyclization of allenes to construct indene-based sulfides with excellent regioselectivities is disclosed. The reactions were carried out at low temperatures by selenide catalysis in the presence of TMSOTf. Not only electrophilic arylthio reagents but also electrophilic alkylthio reagents worked well under these conditions. Furthermore, the method could be applied to intermolecular azidothiolation of allenes.

Catalytic, Enantioselective Sulfenofunctionalization of Alkenes: Development and Recent Advances

The last decade has witnessed a burgeoning of new methods for the enantioselective vicinal difunctionalization of alkenes initiated by electrophilic sulfenyl group transfer. The addition of sulfenium ions to alkenes results in the generation of chiral, non-racemic thiiranium ions. These highly reactive intermediates are susceptible to attack by a myriad of nucleophiles in a stereospecific ring-opening event to afford anti 1,2-sulfenofunctionalized products. The practical application of sulfenium ion transfer has been enabled by advances in the field of Lewis base catalysis. This Review will chronicle the initial discovery and characterization of thiiranium ion intermediates followed by the determination of their configurational stability and the challenges of developing enantioselective variants. Once the framework for the reactivity and stability of thiiranium ions has been established, a critical analysis of pioneering studies will be presented. Finally, a comprehensive discussion of modern synthetic applications will be categorized around the type of nucleophile employed for sulfenofunctionalization.

Divergent Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Sulfoxides and β-SCF3 Carbonyl Compounds by Tandem Trifluoromethylthiolation/Rearrangement of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols

A selenium-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation/[2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of tertiary allylic and propargylic alcohols which could provide straightforward and facile access to trifluoromethyl sulfoxides was developed. Various allylic and allenic trifluoromethyl sulfoxides were obtained with moderate to excellent yields. Meanwhile, a Lewis acid mediated trifluoromethylthiolation/1,2-rearrangement to synthesize β-SCF₃ carbonyl compounds was also accomplished. These two tandem reactions feature with mild reaction conditions and metal-free. During these two reactions, the chemoselectivity of electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation was revealed.

Lewis-Acid-Mediated Intramolecular Trifluoromethylthiolation of Alkenes with Phenols: Access to SCF3-Containing Chromane and Dihydrobenzofuran Compounds

A Lewis-acid-mediated intramolecular trifluoromethylthiolation of alkenes with phenols that can offer direct access to SCF₃-containing chromane and dihydrobenzofuran compounds was disclosed for the first time. Numerous SCF₃-containing chromanes were obtained in moderate to good yields using γ-substituted 2-allyphenols as substrates. Meanwhile, various SCF₃-containing dihydrobenzofurans with oxa-quaternary centers were also delivered in moderate to good yields using β-substituted 2-allyphenols as substrates.

Enantioselective Construction of Axially Chiral Amino Sulfide Vinyl Arenes by Chiral Sulfide-Catalyzed Electrophilic Carbothiolation of Alkynes

The enantioselective construction of axially chiral compounds by electrophilic carbothiolation of alkynes is disclosed for the first time. This enantioselective transformation is enabled by the use of a Ts-protected bifunctional sulfide catalyst and Ms-protected ortho-alkynylaryl amines (Ts=tosyl; Ms=mesyl). Both electrophilic arylthiolating and electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolating reagents are suitable for this reaction. The obtained products of axially chiral vinyl-aryl amino sulfides can be easily converted into biaryl amino sulfides, biaryl amino sulfoxides, biaryl amines, vinyl-aryl amines, and other valuable difunctionalized compounds.

Lewis-Acid-Mediated Thiocyano Semipinacol Rearrangement of Allylic Alcohols for Construction of α-Quaternary Center β-Thiocyano Carbonyls

An electrophilic thiocyano semipinacol rearrangement of allylic alcohols has been achieved for the first time by using N-thiocyano-dibenzenesulfonimide (NTSI). This approach provides a direct, simple, and efficient strategy for the formation of thiocyano carbonyl compounds with moderate to excellent yields. Meanwhile, an all-carbon quaternary center was rapidly constructed. In addition, an asymmetric version of this tandem reaction was preliminarily investigated.