Thiols from sulfonyl halides

General Reaction Chemistry of Sulfonic Acids. Sulfonic acids may be used to produce sulfonic acid esters, which are derived from epoxides, olefins, alkynes, allenes, and ketenes, as shown in Figure 1 (10). Sulfonic acids may be converted to sulfonamides via reaction with an amine in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride [10025-87-3], POCl3 (11). Because sulfonic acids are generally not converted direcdy to sulfonamides, the reaction most likely involves a sulfonyl chloride intermediate. Phosphorus pentachloride [10026-13-8] and phosphorus pentabromide [7789-69-7] can be used to convert sulfonic acids to the corresponding sulfonyl halides (12,13). The conversion may also be accomplished by continuous electrolysis of thiols or disulfides in the presence of aqueous HQ [7647-01-0] (14) or by direct sulfonation with chlorosulfuric acid. Sulfonyl fluorides are typically prepared by direct sulfonation with fluorosulfuric acid [7789-21-1], or by reaction of the sulfonic acid or sulfonate with fluorosulfuric acid. Halogenation of sulfonic acids, which avoids production of a sulfonyl halide, can be achieved under oxidative halogenation conditions (15). 

Several thiols occur naturally for example, skunk secretion contains 3-methyll-butanethiol and cut onions evolve 1-propanethiol, and the thiol group of the natural amino acid cysteine plays a vital role in the biochemistry of proteins and enzymes (see Introduction, p. 2). Primary and secondary thiols may be prepared from alkyl halides (RX) by reaction with excess sodium thiolate (SN2 nucleophilic substitution by HST) or via the Grignard reagent and reaction with sulfur. Tertiary thiols can be obtained in good yields by addition of hydrogen sulfide to a suitable alkene. Thiols can also be prepared by reduction of sulfonyl chlorides (Scheme l).la,2a... 

S-Methyl methanethiosulfonate is commercially available, but is expensive. Other preparation methods involve oxidation of thiols or disulfides by halogens or peroxides,3 reduction of sulfinyl halides5 (which have to be prepared) or sulfonyl halides with potassium iodide6 or copper/bronze7 as well as thermolysis of sulfonylhydrazines.8 Finally, a two-day procedure for the preparation of methyl methanethiosulfonate has been reported from dimethyl sulfoxide.9... 

In summary, sulfonamides are most commonly prepared by the reaction of amines with sulfonyl halides. Aryl sulfonyl chlorides may be accessed from C-H bonds by chlorosulfonylation, from C-S bonds by oxidation, from C-N bonds by diazotization, or from C-X bonds by metalation. Approaches to all l sulfonamides are more limited as they are typically prepared by either oxidative chlorination of thiols or addition of organometallic nucleophiles to sulfur electrophiles. Traditional sulfonamide preparation has frequently necessitated harsh reagents and conditions, but the development of Pd-catalysed approaches and discovery of new sulfur dioxide sources allow for operationally simple sulfonamide synthesis under mild conditions. Future directions in sulfonamide synthesis will likely involve the direct C-H installation of sulfonamides without the use of hazardous reagents. 

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