Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfilimines via S-C bond formation

Abstract

As the aza-analogues of sulfoxides, sulfilimines bearing S(IV) stereogenic centers hold tremendous potential in synthetic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. However, the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfilimines are much less explored compared with chiral sulfoxides. In addition to the well-established asymmetric imidation of sulfides, catalytic enantioselective sulfur functionalization of sulfenamides has received increasing attention and developed rapidly over the past two years, which provides an efficient and alternative approach to chiral sulfilimine synthesis. This Highlight article summarizes and discusses the most recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric S-C bond-forming reactions for the preparation of chiral sulfilimines from sulfenamides.