CHIRAL VARIANTS OF ARYLALKYL SULFUR REAGENTS. (R)-CAMPHOR KETIMINES OF OGIOVANNA AMINOTHIOETHERS AND OXIDES

Abstract

Ketimines la-d derived from ortho-aminosubstituted phenylthioethers were prepared in order to determine the degree of chirality transfer from the chiral auxiliary to the sulfur atom in the formation of the sulfoxide or to the α-carbon atom in the reaction of the anion with alkyl halides or benzaldehyde. Oxidation to the sulfoxide occurred with little or no asymmetric induction. The crystalline benzyl sulfone 4c was deprotonated by alkyllithium or Grignard reagents and reacted with alkyl halides and benzaldehyde, in all cases with little to fair transfer of chirality. The major diastereoisomer from methylation of the anion of 4c with methyl iodide, was isolated, and afforded the enantiomerically pure amine 5 after removal of the chiral auxiliary. An X-ray structure determination of 4d allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration of the asymmetric carbon and revealed that the conformation of the ketimine in the crystal state is not homogeneous.

Key Words:

• (R)-Camphor ketimines of o-aminothioethers
• oxidation to sulfoxides
• X-ray structure of sulfone 4d.