title: Versatile C(sp(2) )-C(sp(3) ) Ligand Couplings of Sulfoxides for the Enantioselective Synthesis of Diarylalkanes.
abstract: The reaction of chiral (hetero)aryl benzyl sulfoxides with Grignard reagents affords enantiomerically pure diarylalkanes in up to 98 % yield and greater than 99.5 % enantiomeric excess. This ligand coupling reaction is tolerant to multiple substitution patterns and provides access to diverse areas of chemical space in three operationally simple steps from commercially available reagents. This strategy provides orthogonal access to electron-deficient heteroaromatic compounds, which are traditionally synthesized by transition metal catalyzed cross-couplings, and circumvents common issues associated with proto-demetalation and β-hydride elimination.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Mindaugas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šiaučiulis
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Storr
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. robert.stockman@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7915-340X
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stockman
keywords: arenes; cross-coupling; magnesium; reaction mechanisms; sulfur