Diastereoselective alpha-Sulfenylation of N-tert-Butanesulfinyl Imidates

A diastereoselective alpha-sulfenylation of chiral alpha-aryl/alkyl N-tert-butanesulfinyl imidates has been developed. Suitable sulfur electrophiles can be used as sulfenylating reagents to intercept aza-enolates generated from imidate deprotonation, giving alpha-thiofunctionalized imidates in good yields with high diastereocontrol. This protocol for C-S bond formation can efficiently synthesize enantioenriched 1,2-sulfanyl amine derivatives such as sulconazole.