Sulfone compounds hydrogenolysis

Various terminal allylic compounds are converted into l-alkenes at room temperature[362]. Regioselective hydrogenolysis with formate is used for the formation of an exo-methylene group from cyclic allylic compounds by the formal anti thermodynamic isomerization of internal double bonds to the exocyclic position[380]. Selective conversion of myrtenyl formate (579) into /9-pinene is an example. The allylic sulfone 580 and the allylic nitro compound... 

These agents would be used as adjuncts to beta lactams since they have no antibacterial activity in their own right. A key reaction in the synthesis of each compound involves the replacement of the amine at 6 and the protection of that position as a mono- or di-halide. Thus reaction of 6-APA (2-4) with nitrous acid gives the diazonium salt (9-1) this is converted to the dibromide (9-2) on treatment with bromine. The ring sulfur is then oxidized with permanganate to the sulfone (9-3). Hydrogenolysis of the product replaces the two bromine atoms by hydrogen to afford sulbactam (9-4) [13]. 

The clinical and commercial success of the antidepressant compound fluoxetine (Chapter 2 Prozac) engendered considerable work in other laboratories. A benzo-dioxan based compound that shows similar activity shares only a few stmctural features with the prototype. The benzodioxan nucleus (68-3) is formed by an alkylation reaction between the fluorocatechol (68-1) and the derivative (68-2) from meso, and hence achiral, butanetetrol. The benzyl protecting groups are then removed by hydrogenation over palladium, and the thus-obtained diol is converted to the fiii-toluene-sulfonate (68-4) by reaction with toluenesulfonyl chloride. Treatment of that intermediate with benzylamine leads to fiw-alkylation on the same nitrogen to form a pyrrolidine ring and thus the tricyclic compound (68-5). A second hydrogenolysis step then leads to fluparoxan (68-6) [70]. 

Hydrogenolysis of compounds with sulfur atoms attached to aromatic rings such as benzenethiols, and aryl sulfides, disulfides, sulfoxides and sulfones takes place on refluxing with Raney nickel or nickel boride. Sulfur combines with nickel, and hydrogen replaces the sulfur-containing group. 

Aluminum amalgam (Al/Hg) is also a useful reagent that is most commonly employed for hydrogenolysis of sulfur compounds.533 Reduction of sulfoxides is an important application,534 as is reduction of sulfones. Aluminum amalgam reduces the a-phenylsulfonyl moiety in 554 to give lactone 555 in 68% yield.535 Aluminum amalgam has also been used for reduction of nitro compounds to the amine,536 and reduction of azides to the amine.532... 

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