Reaction of 1-bromovinyl and 1-bromo-2-phenylvinyl sulfones with some CH acids

Abstract

Benzyl, methyl, and phenyl α-bromovinyl sulfones reacted with malononitrile and dimethyl malonate sodium enolates in THF to give sulfonyl-substituted cyclopropanes. Reactions of the same sulfones with methyl acetoacetate sodium enolate afforded the corresponding sulfonyl-substituted cyclopropanes as mixtures of cis and trans isomers with a small impurity of 5-sulfonyl-4,5-dihydrofuran derivative. Phenyl and p-tolyl 1-bromo-2-phenylvinyl sulfones reacted with methyl acetoacetate sodium salt to produce a mixture of trans-isomeric 5-sulfonyl-4,5-dihydrofuran and Michael adduct of the CH acid with activated acetylene generated by concurrent 1,2-dehydrobromination of the initial α-bromovinyl sulfone.