The apple never falls far from the tree: S‐alkylthiocarbamate 1 (see scheme, NBP=N‐bromophthalimide) was prepared in high yield through a synthetic sequence involving a Newman–Kwart rearrangement of the corresponding O‐alkylthiocarbamates. Compound 1 was used to catalyze bromolactonization, thus providing enantioenriched δ‐lactones in excellent yield and enantioselectivity.
A novel amino-thiocarbamate-catalyzed bromolactonization of unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed. The scope of the reaction is evidenced by 22 examples of gamma-lactones with up to 99% yield and 93% ee. The protocol was applied in the enantioselective synthesis of the key intermediates of VLA-4 antagonists.