Sulfondiimines: synthesis, derivatisation and application

Sulfondiimines are aza-analogues of sulfones and sulfoximines. In contrast to the latter two compound classes, sulfondiimines are rare in the chemical literature. Although a full understanding of the stability and reactivity of sulfondiimines is wanting, sulfondiimines have recently been recognized as novel bioisosteres for carbonyl moieties enabling expansion of the well-known portfolio of pharmaceutically relevant compounds. In this review, we briefly summarize the structure and stability of sulfondiimines and then focus on syntheses and derivatisations of these interesting compounds with sulfur-nitrogen core units. Furthermore, their use in heterocyclic chemistry and recent applications as bioactive compounds are presented.

Facile synthesis of 2,5-bis(silyl)selenophene-1,1-dioxide and its photophysical properties

The reaction of 2,5-bis(silyl)thiophenes withmCPBA gave the corresponding 1,1-dioxides in good yields. The kinetics of the reactions and structures were discussed.

Tetrafluorothiophene S,S-dioxide: a perfluorinated building block

Tetrafluorothiophene S,S-dioxide, a highly reactive diene and dienophile, has been synthesized. A new route to 3,4-difluoro- and tetrafluorothiophene has been realized, and the previously unknown 2,3,4-trifluorothiophene has been obtained. The reactivity of tetrafluorothiophene S-oxide has been compared with that of the S,S-dioxide.

Pi-face-selective Diels-Alder reactions of 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1-oxide and 1-imide and formation of 1,2-thiazetidines

3,4-Di-tert-butylthiophene 1-oxide (1a) reacted with a series of electron-deficient alkenic dienophiles at its syn-pi-face relating to the S=O bond to give [4+2] adducts in excellent yields. The 1-oxide 1a also reacted even with angle-strained dienophiles acenaphthylene and norbornene at its syn-pi-face to afford [4+2] adducts; in the latter case, norbornene reacted exclusively at its exo-pi-face. The oxide 1a reacted with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to produce dimethyl 4,5-di-tert-butylphthalate in high yield with spontaneous extrusion of SO from the initial adduct even at room temperature. Similarly, 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)imide (3a) reacted with alkenic dienophiles at its syn-pi-face relating to the S=N bond to give [4+2] adducts in good yields. The reaction of 3a with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) afforded a 1,2-thiazetidine 12a, the first example of S-unoxidized 1,2-thiazetidine, in good yield, through rearrangement of the initial [4+2] adduct. The molecular structure of 12a is discussed on the basis of the X-ray crystallographic analysis. Comparison of the foregoing reactions leads to the conclusion that the 1-oxide 1a is more reactive as a diene than the 1-imide 3a, which is more reactive than 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1,1-dioxide. The origin of the syn-pi-face selectivities of 1a and 3a in Diels-Alder reactions is discussed in terms of the orbital mixing rule and steric effect and also based on B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations.

Oxorhenium(V) dithiolates catalyze the oxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide of sulfoxides and sulfides, including 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene

tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) efficiently converts a wide variety of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones. The method offers the advantage that one product or the other can be obtained in high purity by a modest variation of conditions. The reactions occur smoothly at 25minus sign50 C in chloroform and, to the extent studied, in toluene and methylene chloride. A catalyst is required; the most extensively studied was MeReO(mtp)PPh(3), 1, where mtpH(2) is 2-(mercaptomethyl)thiophenol. Other chelating dithiolate ligands can be used with comparable results. These oxidations were tested for dialkyl, alkylminus signaryl, and diaryl sulfides; thiophenes; and thianthrene. Even the "hard" sulfide, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT) was quantitatively oxidized to the dioxide with TBHP:DMDBT 3.0-3.5 and 0.05-3.8 mol % 1. The mechanism was explored in kinetics studies carried out only for methyl tolyl sulfide. The product buildup curve was complex, with an induction period followed by a rapid growth phase. The kinetic data could be modeled adequately but not perfectly by allowing five rate constants to refine. Their values are consistent with the chemical sense of the mechanism.