Stereochemistry of Free-Radical Eliminations on β-Phenylsulfonyl Radicals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo01293a006

Tributyltin radicals have been allowed to react with erythro- and threo-2-bromo-3-(phenylsulfonyl)butane (5a,b) to generate β-(phenylsulfonyl)-sec-butyl radicals 9.The intermediate 9 eliminates phenylsulfonyl radicals to form 2-butenes in a nonstereospecific manner.The lack of stereospecificity is due to rotation about the C2-C3 bond before the loss of the phenylsulfonyl radical can occur and implies that the stabilization of the radical by sulfur bridging is negligible.