Catalytic Regioselective Sulfonylation of α-Chelatable Alcohols:  Scope and Mechanistic Insight

Abstract

This paper describes a convenient protocol for the regioselective sulfonylation of alpha-chelatable alcohols. Typically, the reaction of alpha-heterosubstituted alcohols with 1 equiv of p-TsCl and 1 equiv of Et(3)N in the presence of 2 mol % of Bu(2)SnO leads to rapid, regioselective, and exclusive monotosylation. The pK(a) of the amine was correlated to the reaction rate. A plausible mechanism for this reaction has been proposed on the basis of (119)Sn NMR studies.