Direct a-Sulfenylation of Aldehydes

Optically active compounds having a free thiol functionality are interesting molecules because they can serve as inhibitors of zinc-containing enzymes [31]. 

The use of 36 was justified by the deprotection of the benzyl group that led to the free thiol functionality using Na/NH3(1). 

It should be noted that the more sterically demanding a,a-disubstituted aldehydes could be efficiently sulfenylated when the same catalyst was used, even if with lower enantiomeric excess (61% ee). 

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