A chemoselective hydroxymethylation: new route for the synthesis of 6-aroyl-4-(4H-triazol-3-yl)thiomorpholin-3-ones

Treatment of 2-(2-oxo-2-arylethylthio)-N-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)acetamides with paraformaldehyde in the presence of a base has led to a tandem chemoselective hydroxymethylation followed by cyclization yielding a set of novel 6-aroyl-4-(4H-triazol-3-yl)thiomorpholin-3-ones. The thiomorpholine ring has been found to have a boat like conformation in these compounds as evidenced by NOESY NMR spectrum.