The reduction of the carbonyl group in acylated trifluoroethyl alkanesulfonates follows the Felkin-Ahn selectivity, and the so-formed diastereomeric β-hydroxysulfonyl intermediates undergo syn- and anti-fragmentation, depending on the reaction conditions. In effect, isomeric E- and Z-alkenes are formed in a stereodivergent manner, which mimics the mechanistic manifold of the Peterson olefination.
Alkylation of nitroarenes via VicariousNucleophilicSubstitution (VNS) was tested experimentally and modelled with DFT calculations. Mechanistic studies reveal intrinsic differences between reactions of archetypal carbanion precursor PhSO2CH2Cl, and alkyl phenyl sulfones, in which benzenesulfinate acts as a leaving group. Accordingly, for the latter precursors steric hindrance develops at the β-elimination