Tandem transformations of bromo-substituted β-(methylsulfonyl)styrenes in reactions with dimethyl malonate, methyl cyanoacetate, and methyl acetoacetate

Abstract

β-Bromo-β-(methylsulfonyl)styrene reacted with dimethyl malonate and methyl cyanoacetate in the presence of sodium hydride to give sulfonyl-substituted cyclopropanes, and sulfonyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofuran was also formed in the reaction with methyl acetoacetate. Reactions of α-bromo-β-(bromomethylsulfonyl) styrene with dimethyl malonate and methyl cyanoacetate led to the formation of 2,3-dihydro-λ6-thiophene S,S-dioxide derivatives. In the reaction of α-bromo-β-(bromomethylsulfonyl)styrene with methyl acetoacetate, 2,3-dihydro-λ6-thiophene S,S-dioxide and 2,5-dihydro-λ6-thiophene S,S-dioxide derivatives and methyl acetoacetate O-alkylation product, methyl 3-[(E)-2-(bromomethylsulfonyl)-1-phenylvinyloxy]but-2-enoate, were obtained at a ratio of 2.7: 1.2: 1. α-Bromo-β-(methylsulfonyl)styrene reacted with dimethyl malonate to produce dimethyl 2-[2-(methylsulfonyl)-1-phenylethylidene]malonate. The reaction of β-bromo-β-(bromomethylsulfonyl) styrene with dimethyl malonate and methyl cyanoacetate were strictly stereoselective, and they afforded tetrahydro-λ6-thiophene S,S-dioxide derivatives. The reaction of the same substituted styrene with methyl acetoacetate was not stereoselective, and the products were two diastereoisomeric tetrahydro-λ6-thiophene S,S-dioxides and sulfonyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofuran at a ratio of 2.3: 2.7: 1.