Catalytic Enantioselective Multicomponent Reactions of Sulfoxonium Ylides Enabled by a Formal Rearrangement—A Versatile Entry to Enantioenriched α‐Sulfanyl Carbonyl Compounds

N Nicolò Santarelli (Department of Chemistry) P Pietro Pecchini (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) N Nunzio Matera (University of Bologna, Department of Industrial Chemistry Toso Montanari, via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy) A Andrea Pellegrini (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Via P. Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy) R Riccardo Fabbri (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) I Irati Celada Cubero (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) L Leire Navarro Rubio (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) C Cristina Di Pietro (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) A Andrea Mazzanti (University of Bologna, Department of Industrial Chemistry Toso Montanari, via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy) M Mariafrancesca Fochi (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy) L Luca Bernardi (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sulfur ylides have emerged as versatile carbenoids for catalytic enantioselective X–H insertion reactions (X = C, N, O, and S), while offering a better safety profile compared to traditional diazo‐based metal carbene precursors. However, the realization of valuable multicomponent reactions (MCRs) with sulfur ylides has been so far out of reach. Here, we report the enantioselective MCR of sulfoxonium ylides, aldehydes, and thiols catalyzed by a chiral phosphoric acid. Departing from carbenoid reactivity, the reaction pathway entails two sequential but nonoverlapping catalytic cycles, where the assembly of the components is followed by a delayed stereodetermining rearrangement across the central C─C bond of the molecule. The organocatalytic MCR delivers β‐hydroxy‐α‐sulfanyl carbonyl products as single anti‐diastereoisomers and generally in high yields and enantioselectivities. These products cannot be readily accessed by other catalytic means and are synthetic linchpins to a variety of α‐sulfanyl carbonyl compounds via stereospecific substitutions of their hydroxy group.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 28
Published July 06, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

N

Nicolò Santarelli

Department of Chemistry

P

Pietro Pecchini

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

N

Nunzio Matera

University of Bologna, Department of Industrial Chemistry Toso Montanari, via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy

A

Andrea Pellegrini

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Via P. Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy

R

Riccardo Fabbri

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

I

Irati Celada Cubero

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

L

Leire Navarro Rubio

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

C

Cristina Di Pietro

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

A

Andrea Mazzanti

University of Bologna, Department of Industrial Chemistry Toso Montanari, via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy

M

Mariafrancesca Fochi

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy

L

Luca Bernardi

Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari” Center For Chemical Catalysis – C3 and INSTM RU Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna Bologna Italy