α-Sulfenylalkylation of carbonyl compounds at the α-position via magnesium amide-induced enamine sulfenylalkylation with sulfoxides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(98)83005-6

The reactions of enamines with sulfoxides bearing α-hydrogens in the presence of a magnesium amide, generated in situ from the reaction of ethylmagnesium bromide with diisopropylamine, afforded the corresponding α-sulfenylalkylated ketones and aldehydes in isolated yields ranging from 39 to 76%. This procedure was successfully extended to the bis(methylthio)methylation with methyl (methylthio)methyl sulfoxide.