Sulfides, methyl desulfurization

The last synthesis to evolve which is due to Ito and his coworkers is interesting in that it relies on a stereospecific skeletal rearrangement of a bicyclo[2.2.2]octane system which in turn was prepared by Diels-Alder methodology (Scheme XLVIII) Heating of a toluene solution of cyclopentene 1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride and 4-methylcyclohexa-l,4-dienyl methyl ether in the presence of a catalytic quantity of p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded 589. Demethylation was followed by reduction and cyclization to sulfide 590. Desulfurization set the stage for peracid oxidation and arrival at 591. Chromatography of this intermediate on alumina induced isomerization to keto alcohol 592. Jones oxidation afforded diketone 593 which had earlier been transformed into gymnomitrol. 

Electrophilic attack on the sulfur atom of thiiranes by alkyl halides does not give thiiranium salts but rather products derived from attack of the halide ion on the intermediate cyclic salt (B-81MI50602). Treatment of a s-2,3-dimethylthiirane with methyl iodide yields cis-2-butene by two possible mechanisms (Scheme 31). A stereoselective isomerization of alkenes is accomplished by conversion to a thiirane of opposite stereochemistry followed by desulfurization by methyl iodide (75TL2709). Treatment of thiiranes with alkyl chlorides and bromides gives 2-chloro- or 2-bromo-ethyl sulfides (Scheme 32). Intramolecular alkylation of the sulfur atom of a thiirane may occur if the geometry is favorable the intermediate sulfonium ions are unstable to nucleophilic attack and rearrangement may occur (Scheme 33). 

Rhodococcus sp. Strain T09 A Rhodococcus strain T09 was isolated by enrichment on media-containing BT. The desulfurization mechanism of this organism was reported to be similar to Gordonia sp. 213E due to the observation of similar intermediates however, the substrate specificity was different. The strain T09 could use 2-methyl, 3-methyl and 5-methyl BT apart from BT as sole source of sulfur for growth, but not 7-methyl or ethyl derivatives. Additionally, it could also use methyl thiobenzothiazole, marcaptobenzothiazole, as well as benzene sulfide, benzene sulfonate, biphenyl sulfinate, dimethyl sulfate, dimethyl sulfone, dimethyl sulfide, methane sulfonic acid, thiophene, and taurine as sole sulfur sources. However, it could not grow on DBT or DBT sulfone. 

HS A family of gas purification processes developed by Union Carbide Corporation, based on the use of proprietary solvents known as UCARSOLs. UCARSOL HS-101, is based on methyl diethanolamine and is used for removing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from other gases. Ucarsol LH-101 is used in its Cansolv system for flue-gas desulfurization. 

Purisol A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from gases by selective absorption in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Developed and licensed by Lurgi, particularly for desulfurizing waste gases from IGCC plants. Seven units were in operation or under construction in 1996. 

The sulfur extrusion method 21 has been extensively investigated for the synthesis of threo-3-methyllanthionine 25 however, in this case desulfurization was not used to generate the amino acid (either in free or protected form), but rather to form different sulfide-bridged cyclic peptides as precursors for the total synthesis of nisin (3). Development of synthetic methods in this area was particularly important in respect to the synthesis of nisin, since this lantibiotic contains four // eo-3-methyllanthionine residues. The synthesis proceeded from a protected f/zreo-3-methyl-D-cysteine in the N-terminal position and L-cysteine in the C-terminal position. 

A remarkably high diastereoselective excess was obtained in the addition of the anion of (S)-(-)-methyl 1-naphthyl sulfoxide to n-alkyl phenyl ketones. The sulfoxide was prepared in optically pure form by oxidation of the complex of methyl 1-naphthyl sulfide and 13-cyclodextrin with peracetic acid followed by crystallization. Desulfurization of the adducts provided enantiomerically pure tertiary alcohols (393]. 

The benzo derivative (128) reacts as a thiocarbonyl ylide. Addition of N-(p-tolyl)maleimide gives a mixture of the exo (71%) and endo (16%) adducts (129 Ar=p-tolyl), which in hot acetic acid eliminate hydrogen sulfide giving the pyrido[l,2-a]benzimidazole (130 Ar=p-tolyl). Analogous 1 1 cycloadducts (131) are formed with dimethyl maleate, dimethyl fumarate, methyl crotonate and methyl acrylate. In contrast to the transformation (129) —> (130), treatment of the adducts (131 R = H, Me) with hot acetic acid gives the tetracyclic compounds (133) via the benzimidazole derivatives (132 R = H, Me). Reaction with alkynic 1,3-dipolarophiles gives pyrido[l,2-a]benzimidazole (134) by desulfurization of the primary adducts (80CL1369). 

Catalyst poisoning by sulfur has discouraged development of procedures for cleavage of sulfides. Desulfurization of highly activated allylic methyl sulfides can be effected by addition of lead to the palla-dium(O) catalyst. In the presence of various tertiary amines satisfactory cleavage of several related allyl sulfides has been utilized (equation 12) using a modified Pd/CaCOs catalyst. 

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