Synthetic studies on the MARDi cascade: Stereoselective preparation of sulfonyl-substituted seven-membered rings

A stercoselective synthesis of functionalized sulfonyl-substituted cycloheptanes is described. The approach involves a formal two-carbon ring expansion of 2-benzenesuffortyl cyclopentanones through a base-induced anionic domino three-component transformation named the MARDi cascade.