No abstract

Alkyl sulfinates function as formal nucleophiles in Mannich-type reactions to give sulfonyl formamides, which are readily dehydrated to the corresponding sulfonylmethyl isonitriles. The efficient, two-step synthesis provides a general route to sulfonylmethyl isonitriles from readily available methyl sulfinates or thiols. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the unusual nucleophlicity of the alkyl sulfinates arises from the in situ release of sulfinic acids.

The development of an efficient method for the synthesis of polysubstituted isoindolinones from 1,3-dicarbonyl Ugi-4CR adducts, employing an aromatic radical cyclization process promoted by tetrabutylammonium persulfate and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO), is described. The protocol allowed the construction of a library of isoindolinones bearing a congested carbon in good to excellent yields under mild conditions and in short reaction times.