Two-way homologation of aliphatic aldehydes: Both one-carbon shortening and lengthening via the same intermediate

Abstract

Aliphatic aldehydes can be homologated to both one-carbon shorter and one-carbon longer homologous carbonyl compounds through the 2–4 steps of reactions via the same intermediates, β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones, prepared from the proline-catalyzed sequential reactions of several aliphatic aldehydes with phenylsulfonylnitromethane. While the oxidative cleavage of the key intermediates gave one-carbon less homologous carbonyl compounds, the reduction of the same key intermediates followed by an oxidation produced one-carbon more homologous carbonyl compounds.