Efficient synthesis of N-protected 1-substituted homotaurines from a xanthate and olefins

A series of N-protected 1-substituted homotaurines was synthesized efficiently from various olefins with O-ethyl S-2-phthalimidomethylxanthate as a sulfur-aminomethylation reagent via a radical addition and subsequent performic acid oxidation. The current method is a convenient and practical method for the synthesis of 1-substituted homotaurines with high yields and short synthetic route.