<i>α</i>-Sulfenyl-Directed Ring-Opening Reactions of Epoxides. 1. Highly Regio- and Stereoselective Reaction with Organo-Aluminum Reagents and Application to the Synthesis of an Aggregation Pheromone
rearrangement of the sulfenyl group to the C-2 with the complete inversion of the configuration at the C-2. The reactions of these epoxides were considered to proceed via an episulfonium ion intermediate. Upon applying the present reaction, an aggregation pheromone of African Palm Weevil was stereoselectively synthesized in short steps.
Chemoselective sulfur oxidation of allylic sulfides containing double bonds of high electron density due to multiple alkyl substituents or extended conjugation was developed using the composite metal oxidecatalyst, LiNbMoO(6), without any epoxidation of the electron-rich double bond(s). Selectiveoxidation to either the corresponding sulfoxides or the sulfones was realized by controlling the stoichiometry
E-3-Hydroxyalkenyl phenylsulfides are generated stereoselectively when 2,3-epoxyalkyl phenylsulfides having 3-syn-substituent are exposed to an excess n-butyllithium in THF solution.