Rhenium catalyzed sulfurization of phosphorus(III) compounds with thiiranes: New reagents for phosphorothioate ester synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)10029-6

A new method for the mild sulfurization of phosphorus(III) compounds with thiiranes catalyzed by ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂ (I) or ReOCl₃(SMe₂)OPPh₃) (II) is reported. The novel catalytic sulfur transfer reactions are rapid and occur efficiently under ambient conditions in organic solvents. This methodology enabled propylene sulfide to be used as a sulfurizing agent for the synthesis of a protected nucleotide phosphorothioate ester.