Hydrogenative Kinetic Resolution of Vinyl Sulfoxides

Abstract

<div> <p> Enantiopure sulfoxides are valuable precursors of organosulfur compounds with a broad application in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. An unprecedented strategy for obtaining highly enantioenriched sulfoxides based on a hydrogenative kinetic resolution using Rh-complexes of phosphine-phosphites ligands as catalysts is reported. After optimization, highly efficient conditions for the kinetic resolution of racemic sulfoxides have been identified. This methodology has been applied to a set of racemic aralkyl or aryl vinyl sulfoxides and allowed the isolation of both recovered and reduced product in excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99% and 97% ee, respectively; 16 examples).</p> </div> <p> &nbsp;</p>