Remote stereocontrol by the sulfinyl group. Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with substituted (S)-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)styrenes and (S)-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl] vinyl ketones

The ability of a homochiral sulfinyl group at the dienophile to act as a remote stereocontrol inductor in the Diels–Alder reaction with cyclopentadiene has been evaluated. High pressure conditions were required for the reactions of (S)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)styrenes 3–5 (E-1,2-disubstituted double bond) and 6–8 (1,1-disubstituted double bond). A good facial selectivity and total endo selectivity were attained with 1,1-disubstitued dienophiles, though the 1,2-disubstituted ones afforded poorer results. In contrast, (S)-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl] vinyl ketones 9–11 reacted readily at low temperature (−40 °C) with complete endo selectivity and high facial selectivity in the presence of Yb(OTf)3 as a chelating reagent of sulfinyl and carbonyl oxygen atoms. Concerning furan reactions, β-trifluoromethyl enone 14 afforded Diels–Alder adducts with high facial selectivity in the presence of the Lewis acid, but β-non-substituted enones 9 and 12 yielded products of furan conjugate addition to the double bond.