Electrochemical dual-oxidation strategy enables access to α-chlorosulfoxides from sulfides

Abstract

Electrochemistry contributes a strong tool for the manufacture of molecules, addressing intractable challenges in synthetic chemistry by enabling innovative reaction pathways. Herein, a bifunctional reagent, aqueous hydrochloric acid, is used to establish an electrochemical selective dual-oxidation approach that gives access to α-chlorosulfoxides from sulfides. This strategy presents broad substrate scope, high diastereoselectivity, and regioselectivity. The late-stage modification of amino acids and pharmaceutical derivatives further highlights the utility. Furthermore, detailed mechanistic studies reveal that the key success for this selective chemical transformation is the dual-oxidation process at the anode. This electrochemical dual-oxidation strategy may have wide universality; we anticipate diverse applications of this protocol across the many fields of chemistry.