The discovery of sulfoxaflor [N-[methyloxido[1-[6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]ethyl]-λ(4)-sulfanylidene] cyanamide] resulted from an investigation of the sulfoximine functional group as a novel bioactive scaffold for insecticidal activity and a subsequent extensive structure-activity relationship study. Sulfoxaflor, the first product from this new class (the sulfoximines) of insect control agents, exhibits broad-spectrum efficacy against many sap-feeding insect pests, including aphids, whiteflies, hoppers, and Lygus, with levels of activity that are comparable to those of other classes of insecticides targeting sap-feeding insects, including the neonicotinoids. However, no cross-resistance has been observed between sulfoxaflor and neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid, apparently the result of differences in susceptibility to oxidative metabolism. Available data are consistent with sulfoxaflor acting via the insect nicotinic receptor in a complex manner. These observations reflect the unique structure of the sulfoximines compared with neonicotinoids.

The 1 H and 13 C NMR chemical shifts of 48 industrially preferred solvents in six commonly used deuterated NMR solvents (CDCl 3 , acetone-d 6 , DMSO-d 6 , acetonitrile-d 3 , methanol-d 4 , and D 2 O) are reported. This work supplements the compilation of NMR data published by Gottlieb, Kotlyar, and Nudelman (J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 7512) by providing spectral parameters for solvents that were not commonly utilized at the time of their original report. Data are specifically included for solvents, such as 2-Me-THF, n-heptane, and iso-propyl acetate, which are being used more frequently as the chemical industry aims to adopt greener, safer, and more sustainable solvents. These spectral tables simplify the identification of these solvents as impurities in NMR spectra following their use in synthesis and workup protocols.

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Despite Nature's longstanding ability to use a proton, the most prevalent Lewis acid, to both activate and orient a substrate during an enantioselective reaction, this work represents the first example of this phenomenon outside of a protein. A chiral, nonracemic BisAMidine (BAM) ligand was designed, synthesized, and complexed to the proton of a Brønsted acid. The resulting coordination compound catalyzed the production of enantioenriched product from the combination of a Schiff base and nitroalkane (the aza-Henry reaction). This particular reaction is also considered a model for many analogous carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions catalyzed by enzymes (e.g., the Mannich reaction). This discovery suggests the use of ionic hydrogen bonds in asymmetric catalysis may not only be more general than previously thought, but also a viable "green" approach to single-enantiomer organic compounds.

The novel series of N-heterocyclic sulfoximines helped to advance the current knowledge of the sulfoxaflor SAR, and demonstrated that the structural requirement for the sulfoximine nitrogen position was not limited to small, electron-deficient moeities, but rather was tolerant of larger functionality.