Microwave-mediated stereocontrolled annulations of diazo(aryl)methyl(diaryl)phosphine oxides with pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates

Divergent Synthesis of Sulfur-Containing Bridged Cyclobutanes by Lewis Acid Catalyzed Formal Cycloadditions of Pyridinium 1,4-Zwitterionic Thiolates and Bicyclobutanes

Bridged cyclobutanes and sulfur heterocycles are currently under intense investigation as building blocks for pharmaceutical drug design. Two formal cycloaddition modes involving bicyclobutanes (BCBs) and pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolate derivatives were described to rapidly expand the chemical space of sulfur-containing bridged cyclobutanes. By using Ni(ClO4)2 as the catalyst, an uncommon higher-order (5+3) cycloaddition of BCBs with quinolinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolate was achieved with broad substrate scope under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, the first Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric polar (5+3) cycloaddition of BCB with pyridazinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolate was accomplished. In contrast, pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates undergo an Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed formal (3+3) reaction with BCBs to generate thia-norpinene products, which represent the initial instance of synthesizing 2-thiabicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes (thia-BCHeps) from BCBs. Moreover, we have successfully used this (3+3) protocol to rapidly prepare thia-BCHeps-substituted analogues of the bioactive molecule Pitofenone. Density functional theory (DFT) computations imply that kinetic factors govern the (5+3) cycloaddition reaction between BCB and quinolinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolate, whereas the (3+3) reaction involving pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates is under thermodynamic control.

Chameleonic Reactivity of Imidoyl Sulfoxonium Ylides: Access to Functionalized Pyrroles and Dihydro-pyridines

We have found a chameleonic reactivity of imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides. On the one hand, imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides react with electron-deficient reagents, such as alkynyl esters, to lead to the formation of 1,2-dihydro-pyridines. The methyl group attached to the sulfur atom acts as a methylene donor. On the other hand, imidoyl sulfoxonium ylides react with pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates, which leads to the formation of functionalized pyrroles. Both transformations feature mild reaction conditions and good functional group tolerance.

Photoredox Catalyzed [3 + 2]-Annulation Reaction of Pyridinium 1,4-Zwitterionic Thiolates with Alkenes: Synthesis of Dihydrothiophenes

Pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates are usually used to develop ionic annulation reactions. However, radical reactions were rare. We developed a photoredox catalyzed [3 + 2]-annulation reaction of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates with alkenes, disclosed the new reactivity of pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolate, and provided a new synthetic method for dihydrothiophene.