Sulfur-Mediated Reactions through Sulfonium Salts and Ylides

Abstract

AbstractThis Account discusses several new reaction methods developed in our group that utilize sulfur-mediated reactions through sulfonium salts and ylides, highlighting the interplay of rational design and serendipity. Our initial goal was to convert aliphatic C–H bonds into C–C bonds site-selectively, and without the use of transition-metal catalysts. While a proof-of-concept has been achieved, this target is far from being ideally realized. The unexpected discovery of an anti-Markovnikov rearrangement and subsequent studies on difunctionalization of alkynes were much more straightforward, and eventually led to the new possibility of asymmetric N–H insertion of sulfonium ylides through Brønsted acid catalysis.1 Introduction2 Allylic/Propargylic C–H Functionalization3 Anti-Markovnikov Rearrangement4 Difunctionalization of Alkynes5 Asymmetric N–H Insertion of Sulfonium Ylides6 Conclusion