Contrasting pathways for the directed homogeneous hydrogenation of vinyl sulfoxides and vinyl sulfones

Abstract

Rh-complex catalysed directed hydrogenation of (α-hydroxyalkyl)vinyl sulfones follows the same stereochemical course as the corresponding acrylates, via HO-coordination; hydrogenation of the related (α-hydroxyalkyl)vinyl sulfoxides is directed by S–O coordination, which overrides HO-participation and is shown to be general.