Sulfone-based eliminations

Sulfones have been shown to be versatile intermediates for the introduction of carbon-carbon double bonds [410]. One of the best known routes to do so is the Ramberg-Backlund reaction of an a-halosulfone with an appropriate base. 

This reaction was discovered as early as 1940 [411] and has since received considerable attention. Many reviews deal with its synthetic aspects (see [110], [386], [412] and [413], and references therein for discussion of its mechanism and utility). 

Recently, intermediary episulfones have been isolated from low-temperature Ramberg-Backlund reactions of a-iodosulfones [414—416], opening the way to new perspectives for synthetic applications via these episulfones, although a-iodosulfones are not the most convenient a-halosulfones to prepare and handle. 

In the example given here, the episulfone, prepared at —78°C from the iodosulfone, is converted into the alkene under more forcing conditions. 

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Another sulfone-based elimination of large applicability was proposed by Julia [418,419], Condensation of a metalled phenyl alkyl sulfone with a carbonyl compound, functionalization of the alkoxide and reductive elimination leads to an olefin. 

For chemical processes, some examples are the elimination of aromatics by sulfonation, the elimination of olefins by bromine addition on the double bond (bromine number), the elimination of conjugated diolefins as in the case of the maleic anhydride value (MAV), and the extraction of bases or acids by contact with aqueous acidic or basic solutions. 

Of considerable interest are sulfone promoted eliminations and cyclizations, which proceed via base-catalyzed removal of a proton from the carbon atom a to the sulfonyl group, e.g. equations 19 and 20. 

It has generally been assumed that phosphorous oxychloride-pyridine dehydrations, the elimination of sulfonates, and other base catalyzed eliminations (see below) proceed by an E2 mechanism (see e.g. ref. 214, 215, 216). Concerted base catalyzed eliminations in acyclic systems follow the Saytzelf orientation rule i.e., proceed toward the most substituted carbon), as do eliminations (see ref 214). However, the best geometrical arrangement of the four centers involved in 2 eliminations is anti-coplanar and in the cyclohexane system only the tran -diaxial situation provides this. 

Ester eliminations are normally one of two types, base catalyzed or pyrolytic. The usual choice for base catalyzed j5-elimination is a sulfonate ester, generally the tosylate or mesylate. The traditional conditions for elimination are treatment with refluxing collidine or other pyridine base, and rearrangement may occur. Alternative conditions include treatment with variously prepared aluminas, amide-metal halide-carbonate combinations, and recently, the use of DMSO either alone or in the presence of potassium -butoxide. 

The 2,2 -bis(phenylthiomethyl) dispiroketal (dispoke) derivative is cleaved by oxidation to the sulfone, followed by treatment with LiN(TMS)2. The related bromo and iodo derivatives are cleaved reductively with LDBB (lithium 4,4 -di- -butylbiphenylide) or by elimination with the P4- -butylphosphazene base and acid hydrolysis of the enol ether. The 2,2-diphenyl dispiroketal is cleaved with FeCl3 (CH2CI2, rt, overnight)." The dimethyl dispiroketal is cleaved with TFA, and the allyl derivative is cleaved by ozonolysis followed by elimination. ... 

The reaction of 3-methoxy-1,2,4-triazine 1-oxide 20 with the carbanion generated from chloromethyl phenyl sulfone proceeds as the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) of hydrogen (Scheme 1, path B) via addition of the carbanion at position 5 of the heterocycle. Following base-induced elimination of HCl and protonation, 3-methoxy-5-phenylsulfonyl-1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides 65 result (88LA627). 

Practically speaking, almost all syntheses of these systems are based on the enamine-sulfene cycloaddition reaction143 250. The thietane sulfone thus obtained yields, by elimination of R2NH, the desired unsaturated, four-membered sulfone system187 189 231 250 251 (equation 87). 

Base-induced eliminative ring fission, in which both the double bond and the sulfone function take part, has been observed in thiete dioxides253. The reaction can be rationalized in terms of initial Michael-type addition to the double bond of the ring vinyl sulfone, followed by a reverse aldol condensation with ring opening. The isolation of the ether 270c in the treatment of 6c with potassium ethoxide (since the transformation 267 -> 268 is not possible in this case) is in agreement with the reaction mechanism outlined in equation 101253. 

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