Sulfonic acids from oxiranes

Sulfonic peracids (66) have also been applied recently to the preparation of acid sensitive oxiranes and for the epoxidation of allylic and homoallylic alcohols, as well as relatively unreactive a, p - unsaturated ketones. These reagents, prepared in situ from the corresponding sulfonyl imidazolides 65, promote the same sense of diastereoselectivity as the conventional peracids, but often to a higher degree. In particular, the epoxidation of certain A -3-ketosteroids (e.g., 67) with sulfonic peracids 66 resulted in the formation of oxirane products (e.g., 68) in remarkably high diastereomeric excess. This increased selectivity is most likely the result of the considerable steric requirements about the sulfur atom, which enhances non-bonded interactions believed to be operative in the diastereoselection mechanism <96TET2957>. 

The invention of Heath et al. relates to novel phosphonate allyl monomers, made from reaction of an unsaturated oxirane with amine- or hy-drojyl-functionalized phosphonic acids (Scheme 3.21). These monomers were copolymerized with other unsaturated species (acrylic acid, maleic acid, acrylamide, or monomer derivatives of sulfonic acid, etc), yielding phosphonate polymers or oligomers. Phosphorus-containing monomers were incorporated at a ratio of 0.1-30% and polymerized in aqueous media. The final polymers had a molecular weight of 800-30 000 g mol . With their phosphonic acids groups (free acid or salts forms), they are of particular use as oilfield scale inhibitors. 

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