Regioselective synthesis of quinolone-annulated sulfur heterocycles by aryl radical cyclization

The tin hydride-mediated cyclizations of a number of sulfides and sulfones under mild, neutral conditions, have been investigated accompanied by some amount of β-scission product for sulfides. The sulfides were derived from 4-mercaptoquinolone and 2-bromobenzyl bromides by phase transfer catalyzed reaction and the corresponding sulfones were prepared by treatment of the sulfides with m-CPBA at room temperature. The sulfides and the corresponding sulfones were then reacted with nBu3SnH-AIBN to give regioselective quinolone-annulated sulfur heterocycles.