Inspired by the unexpected reactivity of desulfated naturally occurring glucoraphenin, methods to synthesize thioimidate N-oxides (TIO) have been devised on simple or carbohydrate templates. Either through halocyclization or under Mitsunobu conditions, the starting thiohydroximates cyclized to generate efficiently the corresponding TIO.
the thiohydroximate function allows an alternative synthetic pathway to glucosinolates. O-Silylated hydroxamicacids were prepared and were then activated with triflicanhydride to generate transient nitrile oxides to be condensed with ethanethiol. The procedure was further applied to the synthesis of naturally occurring glucosinolates.