Experimental details for the first general methods for the one-step preparation of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines (tert-butanesulfinimines) (2) from aldehydes and ketones is described. To effect the condensations of tert-butanesulfinamide (1) with aldehydes, the Lewis acidic dehydrating agents MgSO4, CuSO4, or Ti(OEt)4 are employed. Aldehyde condensations mediated by MgSO4 proceed in high yields (84−96%) when an excess of aldehyde is used. In contrast, only a slight excess of aldehyde (1.1 equiv) relative to tert-butanesulfinamide provides sulfinimines in high yields when the more Lewis acidic dehydrating agent CuSO4 is used. The CuSO4-mediated procedure is effective for a wide range of aldehydes, including sterically demanding aldehydes, such as isobutyraldehyde (90%), and electron-rich aldehydes, such as p-anisaldehyde (81%). The still more Lewis acidic Ti(OEt)4 and Ti(O-i-Pr)4 also afford N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines from especially unreactive aldehydes, such as pivaldehyde (82%). In addition, Ti(OEt)4 is effective for the condensation of 1 with ketones to afford a wide range of N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines in good yields (77−91%). For sulfinyl ketimines derived from methyl or n-alkyl phenyl ketones and methyl or n-alkyl isopropyl ketones, only the E isomer is detected by 1H and 13C NMR in CDCl3. For those cases where the difference in steric demand about the imine is very small, such as for 2-hexanone, high E/Z ratios are still observed (5:1).

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The first example of the catalytic asymmetric oxidation of tert-butyl disulfide (1) is described. The product, tert-butyl tert-butanethiosulfinate (2) is obtained with 91% enantiomeric excess in yields of ≥92% on scales as large as 1 mol. The application of H2O2 as stoichiometric oxidant in the presence of 0.25 mol % of VO(acac)2 and 0.26 mol % of a chiral Schiff base ligand, 6a, is both convenient and cost-effective. Thiosulfinate ester 2 is chemically and optically stable and serves as an excellent precursor to chiral tert-butanesulfinyl compounds by the stereospecific nucleophilic displacement of tert-butyl thiolate. Addition of LiNH2 in liquid ammonia and THF provides tert-butanesulfinamide (3; 91% yield). A single recrystallization provides enantiomerically pure 3 in 71−75% overall yield from disulfide 1. Enantiomerically pure thiosulfinate ester 2 also reacts readily and stereospecifically with Grignard reagents, organolithiums, lithium amides, and lithium imine salts to provide enantiomerically pure chiral sulfoxides, sulfinamides, and sulfinimines in good yield.

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