Synthesis sulfoxide pyrolysis

We have mentioned previously (see Section 3.1) the easy formation of a double bond by sulfoxide pyrolysis. Associated with an alkylative step of a metallated sulfoxide, the sequence is of great value in alkene synthesis [44U, 441], as in the one-pot reaction given here. 

So far in this chapter sulfoxide pyrolysis has been discussed in connection with alkene synthesis. However, the other products of these reactions, the sulfenic acids, are also of interest, and have been generated for study by several methods including sulfoxide pyrolysis. Thermolysis of di-f-butyl sulfoxide (79 ... 

A method for the stereospecific synthesis of thiolane oxides involves the pyrolysis of derivatives of 5-t-butylsulfinylpentene (310), and is based on the thermal decomposition of dialkyl sulfoxides to alkenes and alkanesulfenic acids299 (equation 113). This reversible reaction proceeds by a concerted syn-intramolecular mechanism246,300 and thus facilitates the desired stereospecific synthesis301. The stereoelectronic requirements preclude the formation of the other possible isomer or the six-membered ring thiane oxide (equation 114). Bicyclic thiolane oxides can be prepared similarly from a cyclic alkene301. 

Many other uses of a-sulfinyl carbanions are found in the literature, and in the recent past the trend has been to take advantage of the chirality of the sulfoxide group in asymmetric synthesis. Various ways of preparation of enantiopure sulfoxides have been devised (see Section 2.6.2) the carbanions derived from these compounds were added to carbonyl compounds, nitriles, imines or Michael acceptors to yield, ultimately, with high e.e. values, optically active alcohols, amines, ethers, epoxides, lactones, after elimination at an appropriate stage of the sulfoxide group. Such an elimination could be achieved by pyrolysis, Raney nickel or nickel boride desulfurization, reduction, or displacement of the C-S bond, as in the lactone synthesis reported by Casey [388]. 

Allylic sulfoxides are known to equilibrate with their isomeric sulfenates via a 2,3-sigmatropic shift, which has been developed into a useful allylic alcohol synthesis when the unstable sulfenate is trapped (Scheme 14). However, this rearrangement is reversible and so need not necessarily interfere with pyrolytic elimination of the sulfoxide, e.g. the long-chain hydroxydiene (69) was obtained on pyrolysis of the sulfoxide (68 equation 32). A study of substitution effects on the relative rates of rearrangement... 

Treatment of methyl phenyl sulfoxide with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST), in the presence of antimony trichloride provides 159 in quantitative yield (66). The reaction proceeds in good yield with dialkyl sulfoxides and alkyl aryl sulfoxides (163). Reoxidation of the a-fluorosulfide (165) to the corresponding sulfoxide (161), followed by pyrolysis, provides a direct synthesis of fluoroolefins (65). The reaction is believed to proceed by a Pummerer-type mechanism (l.e., a fluoro-Pummerer reaction, Scheme 48). Similarly, Umemoto (67) reported that N-fluorocollidine (167) converted sulfides to ot-fluorosulfides (170) presumably via an S-fluorosulfonium cation species 168 (Scheme 49). The synthetically challenging fluorovinyl ether nucleosides (175) and (176) were prepared using the fluoro-Pummerer reaction (Scheme 50) (60) the (E)-isomer (175) could be isomerized to 176 under photolytic conditions. Finch and co-workers (69) converted 160 to the sulfoximine 178 and demonstrated the utility of this compound as a mild fluoromethylene synthon (Scheme 51). Base-catalyzed condensation 178 with a carbonyl compound gave 179 which afforded... 

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