We report a method for the direct and rapid conversion of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding phosphorothiolates in yields ranging from 64% to 97%, using as a coupling agent the iminium salt prepared from N,N-dimethylthioformamide and Meerwein’s salt. Selective reaction of primary alcohols in the presence of secondary alcohols is possible. The reaction of secondary alcohols proceeds stereospecifically with inversion of configuration.

Thia-Claisen rearrangements have been carried out using N-benzylpyrrolidine-2-thione and chiral allylic bromides derived from D-mannitol. Introduction of a bromine atom onto the double bond of the allylic bromide reverses the sense of diastereoselectivity in the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Density functional theory calculations lead us to rationalise the observed selectivity in terms of a Cíeplak effect.

The one-carbon ring expansion of 1-deoxy-1-thio-1,6-anhydrosugars, mediated by metal carbenes and proceeding through the intermediacy of sulfur ylides, has been proposed as a route for the synthesis of the tagetitoxin skeleton. Intermolecular reactions of such thioanhydrosugars with diazoesters afford a range of undesired products derived from the initially formed ylide, whereas use of an intramolecular process generates stable ylides which can be converted to the tagetitoxin skeleton by photo-Stevens rearrangement. Computational studies using density functional theory indicate that the photochemical rearrangement likely proceeds through a homolysis-recombination pathway.

Treatment of primary or secondary alcohols with 1-phenyl-1(H)-tetrazole-5-thiol and [Me2NCHSEt]+ BF4− leads directly and cleanly to 1-phenyl-1(H)-tetrazol-5-yl sulfides.

A number of bicyclic aminals have been prepared in a stereospecific manner as potential precursors to the core structure of the sarain alkaloids. Rearrangement of these aminals to new diazabicyclic and diazatricyclic systems has been observed under various conditions.

A synthesis of the 9-oxa-3-thiabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system, which constitutes the core of the RNA polymerase inhibitor tagetitoxin, has been achieved through cyclisation of a thiol onto an electrophilic ketone.

1,3-Oxathiolanes are efficiently converted, via sulfur ylide intermediates, to 1,4-oxathianes by ring expansion with a silylated diazoacetate in the presence of a copper catalyst.

Treatment of primary or secondary alcohols with 1-phenyl-1(H)-tetrazole-5-thiol and [Me2NCHSEt]+ BF4− leads directly and cleanly to 1-phenyl-1(H)-tetrazol-5-yl sulfides.

The one-carbon ring expansion of 1-deoxy-1-thio-1,6-anhydrosugars, mediated by metal carbenes and proceeding through the intermediacy of sulfur ylides, has been proposed as a route for the synthesis of the tagetitoxin skeleton. Intermolecular reactions of such thioanhydrosugars with diazoesters afford a range of undesired products derived from the initially formed ylide, whereas use of an intramolecular process generates stable ylides which can be converted to the tagetitoxin skeleton by photo-Stevens rearrangement. Computational studies using density functional theory indicate that the photochemical rearrangement likely proceeds through a homolysis-recombination pathway.

Thia-Claisen rearrangements have been carried out using N-benzylpyrrolidine-2-thione and chiral allylic bromides derived from D-mannitol. Introduction of a bromine atom onto the double bond of the allylic bromide reverses the sense of diastereoselectivity in the [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Density functional theory calculations lead us to rationalise the observed selectivity in terms of a Cíeplak effect.

A number of bicyclic aminals have been prepared in a stereospecific manner as potential precursors to the core structure of the sarain alkaloids. Rearrangement of these aminals to new diazabicyclic and diazatricyclic systems has been observed under various conditions.