A new approach to 2,2-disubstituted 1-(methylsulfanyl)vinyl phosphonates via an intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide

The reaction of methyl (diethylphosphoryl)dithioformate (6) with diaryldiazomethanes 7a–d in THF at −60 °C to room temperature followed by desulfurization is shown to be a convenient method for the preparation of 2,2-disubstituted 1-(methylsulfanyl)vinyl phosphonates 8a–d. The analogous reactions with 2-diazoacenaphthen-1-one (7f) or 2-diazocamphor (7g) in refluxing THF yield selectively the corresponding (Z)- and (E)-vinyl phosphonates 8f and 8g, respectively. These products can be easily oxidized to the vinylsulfoxides 13 and vinylsulfones 14. On the other hand, methyl (diethylphosphoryl)dithioformate (6) and 2-diazo-1,2-diphenylethanone (7e) in boiling THF react to give the 1,3-oxathiole 12. All these reactions occur via an intermediate thiocarbonyl ylide 11 followed by 1,3-dipolar electrocyclization and sulfur extrusion or 1,5-dipolar electrocyclization.