Opticallyactive bromovinyl aryl sulfoxides were subjected to reactions with phenyl- or alkyl-magnesium compounds, with the production of opticallyactive diaryl or aryl alkyl sulfoxides, with inversion of configuration. The enantiospecificity of the process was found to be 98–100%.
(E)- and (Z)-2-halovinyl aryl sulfoxides 1-4 were subjected to reactions with organocopper, organomagnesium, or organolithium reagents. The organometallic reagents gave different products: diorganocuprates led to formation of carbon-carbon bond, with production of alkenyl sulfoxides 5-10, whereas formation of carbon-sulfur bond and production of diaryl or aryl alkyl sulfoxides 11-13 were observed in the reaction with the other organometallics. Possible mechanisms for the two observed processes are briefly discussed.