Hydrogen sulfide, addition with carbonyl compounds

OxUatiou of primary and secondary alcohals to carbonyl compounds. Corey and Kim report that the complex of N-chlorosuccinimide and dimethyl sulfide is somewhat superior to the complex of dimethyl sulfide and chlorine (this volume) for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols the formation of hydrogen chloride is avoided and yields are generally higher. The procedure is illustrated for the oxidation of 4-r-butyl-cyclohexanol (2) to 4-r-butylcyclohexanonc (4). The complex (1) is prepared by addition of dimethyl sulfide (4.1 mmole) to a stirred solution of NCS (3.0 mmole) in toluene at 0° under argon. The mixture is cooled to -25° and a solution of 4-r-butylcyclo-hexanol (2.0 mmole, mixture of cis and trans) in toluene is added dropwise. The stirring is continued for 2 hr. at — 25° and then triethylamine (3.0 mmole) in toluene is added dropwise. The ketone (4) is obtained in almost quantitative yield. As in oxidation with the complex of dimethyl sulfide and chlorine, an intermediate sulfoxonium complex (3) is involved. 

In the original study by Peterson, the alkenation procedure was found to be compatible with sulfur and phosphorus substitution. The alkenation reaction has been tqrplied successfully to a variety of substituted alkenes. Because of the aiuon-stabilizing nature of the thiophenyl, the p-hydroxysiliuie is not isolated and the elimination to the alkene takes place directly to form a 1 1 mixture of ( )- and (Z)-isomers. Ager studied the reaction of the lithio anions of phenyl (trimethylsilyl)methyl sulfides (318) with a variety of carbonyl compounds (equation 72). Yields of this process were good, and addition occurred even with enolizable substrates. This reaction was extended to vinyl sulfones. In contrast to the sulfide case, the substituted sulfone silyl anion behaves as a base, leading to undesired enolization. The best yields were observed for the case where R is a hydrogen or phenyl. 

Synthetic methods for preparation of 1,2,4,5-tetroxanes have been reviewed recently <2001COR601, 2002RMC113>. The most general method involves acid-catalyzed addition of hydrogen peroxide to carbonyl compounds and subsequent cyclization of the hydroperoxide intermediates. The direct synthesis is carried out normally in the presence of either sulfuric, perchloric, or methanesulfonic acids and affords symmetrically substituted tetroxanes (Equation 26). In many cases, for example, where the carbonyl compound is unsubstituted in the a-position, tetroxanes are contaminated with hexaoxonanes and open-chain hydroperoxides. Selective removal of the more reactive hydroperoxides can be achieved with dimethyl sulfide or potassium iodide. Recrystallization usually removes residual hexaoxonanes but, failing that, heating the mixture with perchloric acid in acetic acid can convert hexaoxonanes to tetroxanes or convert the thermodynamically less stable hexaoxonanes to more water-soluble lactones, which may facilitate the purification process <2002RMC113>. 

More than 70 degradation products have been identified. In addition to simple compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, formic acid and acetic acid, dozens of other minor sulfur compounds are formed aliphatic sulfides, aliphatic carbonyl compounds with a thiol group, furans containing sulfur in the molecule (including the previously mentioned meaty aroma character imparting compound 2-methyl-3-furanthiol), thiophenes, thiazoles and alicycHc and heterocycHc bicycHc sulfur... 

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