Regiochemical control in intramolecular cyclizations of 2,3-epoxysulfides mediated by solvent effects

The regioselectivity of cyclization in methylene-interrupted epoxydiols with a thiophenyl ether group adjacent to the epoxide can be controlled by the appropriate choice of reaction conditions. Thus, while the 5-exo mode of cyclization is observed under protic conditions with polar solvents, the intermediacy of an episulfonium ion generated in non-polar solvents lead to a regioisomeric THF product.