Elimination reactions functional group transformations with

These heterocyclization reactions provide initial products with a functionality (3 to the heteroatom, except for cases where a proton is the electrophile. Synthetic applications often depend upon further transformation of this functionality. Useful transformations include replacement by hydrogen, elimination to form a ir-bond, nucleophilic substitution, and substitution via radical intermediates. These reactions will be discussed only when understanding the cyclization step requires inclusion of the functional group transformation. 

This chapter deals with (1) the transformation of the sulfone functionality into other functional groups by nucleophilic substitution reaction, and (2) the addition and elimination reaction of a,/i-unsaturated sulfones. Particular attention will be paid to recent uses of sulfones in organic syntheses1. 

The synthesis of new heterocyclic derivatives under conservation of a preformed cyclic structure is not only of particular importance for the synthesis of ionic 1,3,2-diazaphosphole or NHP derivatives but has also been widely apphed to prepare neutral species with reactive functional substituents. The reactions in question can be formally classified as 1,2-addition or elimination reactions involving mutual interconversion between 1,3,2-diazaphospholes and NHP, and substitution processes. We will look at the latter in a rather general way and include, beside genuine group replacement processes, transformations that involve merely abstraction of a substituent and allow one to access cationic or anionic heterocycle derivatives from neutral precursors. 

The prominent role of alkyl halides in formation of carbon-carbon bonds by nucleophilic substitution was evident in Chapter 1. The most common precursors for alkyl halides are the corresponding alcohols, and a variety of procedures have been developed for this transformation. The choice of an appropriate reagent is usually dictated by the sensitivity of the alcohol and any other functional groups present in the molecule. Unsubstituted primary alcohols can be converted to bromides with hot concentrated hydrobromic acid.4 Alkyl chlorides can be prepared by reaction of primary alcohols with hydrochloric acid-zinc chloride.5 These reactions proceed by an SN2 mechanism, and elimination and rearrangements are not a problem for primary alcohols. Reactions with tertiary alcohols proceed by an SN1 mechanism so these reactions are preparatively useful only when the carbocation intermediate is unlikely to give rise to rearranged product.6 Because of the harsh conditions, these procedures are only applicable to very acid-stable molecules. 

Conversion of an amide a thioamide enhances the reactivity of that function since it favors the enol form and provides a better leaving group for addition-elimination reactions (mercaptide vs. hydroxide). Thioamides obtained by treatment of diazepi-none such as (15-1) or (16-1) with phosphorus pentasulhde provide starting materials for further modihcation of the benzodiazepine nucleus. (More recently developed reagents such as Lawesson s Reagent or hw(tricyclohexyltin) sulhde provide more convenient methods for that transformation.) Thus, reaction of the thioamide (15-2) with (9-allylhydroxylamine leads directly to the amidine, probably via an addition-elimination sequence of the thioenol tautomer of (15-2). There is thus obtained the antianxiety agent uldazapam (15-3) [17]. 

The transient zirconocene butene complex, 105, has proved to be useful in a number of organic transformations. For example, butene substitution of zirconocene alkene complexes with alkoxy-substituted olefins results in /3-alkoxide elimination to furnish the zirconocene alkoxy compounds (R = Me, 123 R = Bnz, 124) (Scheme 16).50,51 Addition of propargyl alcohols to the zirconocene butene complex, 105, affords homoallylic alcohols. These reactions are of limited utility owing to the lack of stereoselectivity or formation of multiple products. Positioning the alkoxide functional group further down the hydrocarbyl chain allows synthesis of cyclopropanes, though mixtures of the carbocycle and alkene products are obtained in some cases (Scheme 16).52... 

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