Recent developments in sulfone chemistry

Synthetic methods using α-heterosubstituted organometallics

Substituted on the same carbon by an electron donating group and an adjacent multiple bond, cyclopropanes provide building blocks of unprecedented synthetic potential. They are readily available along different routes involving: cyclopropanone hemiacetals, oxaspiropentanes, alkylidenecyclopropanes, 1-heterosubstituted lithiocyclopropanes, α-enone silyl enol ethers, 1,3-dichloroacetone and 1-hydroxycyclopropylcarbonyl derivatives as main sources.

Synthesis and synthetic applications of 1-donor substituted cyclopropanes with ethynyl, vinyl and carbonyl groups

Cyclohexenol annulation via the alkoxy-accelerated rearrangement of vinylcyclobutanes

The reactions of a variety of 1,3-bis(phenylthio)propanes with butyllithium have been shown to produce cyclopropyl phenyl sulfides in good to high yields. A new and convenient in situ preparation of 1-lithiocyclopropyl phenyl sulfide can be readily carried out by treating 1,3-bis(phenylthio)propane with 2 equiv. of butyllithium at 0 °C in THF. The reaction with electrophiles proceeds in good yield. O-Aryl and O-alkyl S-cyclopropyl dithiocarbonates also can be prepared in good yields. 1,2-Bis(phenylthio)ethane was converted to phenyl vinyl sulfide on treatment with butyllithium, while 1,4-bis(phenylthio)butane was recovered unchanged by a similar treatment.

K. R. Hollister

Papers

Intramolecular alkylation as an approach to cyclic sulfones and sulfides