title: Sulfoxidation of alkenes and alkynes with NFSI as a radical initiator and selective oxidant.
abstract: Sulfoxides are important functional molecules. We develop a short-route (one-pot) synthesis of this class of molecules by reacting thiols with alkenes or alkynes under mild and metal-free conditions. N-Fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) is used to play dual roles: as a radical initiator for a thiol-ene/-yne reaction to form sulfide adducts, and as efficient oxidant for conversion of the sulfides formed in situ to sulfoxides. Over-oxidation of the sulfoxides to sulfones is avoided in our approach.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Yuexia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Zeng Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Xingxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Sherman J L
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lauw
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore. robinchi@ntu.edu.sg and Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China.
authors.forename: Yonggui Robin
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chi