Oxetane synthesis: methyl vinyl sulphides as new traps of excited benzophenone in a stereoselective and regiospecific paterno–Büchi reaction

Abstract

The almost exclusive products in the photochemical addition of benzophenone to methyl vinyl sulphides are the 3-methylthio-oxetanes, formed with selectivity for the trans-4-alkyl-3-methylthio configuration, as shown by an X-ray crystal structure determination and difference nuclear Overhauser effect studies.