The Preparation ofN-tert-Butyloxycarbonyl-(Boc-)Protected Sulfoximines and Sulfimines by an Iron(II)-Mediated Nitrene Transfer from BocN3 to Sulfoxides and Sulfides

Abstract

The imidation of sulfides and sulfoxides to the corresponding sulfimides and sulfoximides was carried out with N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl azide (BocN3) in the presence of FeCl2. Sulfoxides 1 reacted at room temperature in CH2Cl2 to give the corresponding sulfoximides 3 in 40–95% yield. The imidation of the sterically congested substrate tert-butyl methyl sulfoxide (1f) proceeded sluggishly (10% yield). The sterospecificity of the reaction was demonstrated with the enantiomerically enriched substrates (R)-(+)-1b and (S)-(–)-1d which yielded the sulfoximides (R)-(+)-3b and (S)-(–)-3d with retention of configuration. Mechanistically, an intermediate (nitrene)FeIV complex is postulated as the reactive nitrene transfer reagent which is formed from FeCl2 and BocN3. The more nucleophilic sulfides 2 reacted more readily in the imidation than sulfoxides. Their conversion to the corresponding sulfimides 4 was conducted with BocN3 and a substoichiometric amount of FeCl2 (0.25 equiv.). Yields ranged between 44 and 92%. In an alternative reaction mode, BocN3 was utilized at 0°C in the presence of FeCl2 and acetyl acetone. The sulfimidation, which did not otherwise occur at this temperature, was accelerated by the ligand (36–90% yield).