Enantioselective one-pot synthesis of β-sulfonyl ketones and trisubstituted tetrahydrothiophenes via β-elimination/cycloaddition sequence

A mild and efficient enantioselective one-pot synthesis of β-sulfonyl ketones and trisubstituted tetrahydrothiophenes via introducing 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol to the simple kinetic resolution of β-sulfonyl ketones has been described herein. The one-pot reaction sequence including kinetic resolution and cascade sulfa-Michael/Aldol reaction proceeded successively to afford corresponding sulfonyl ketones and tetrahydrothiophenes with high enantioselectivities (85%-98% ee and 84%-95% ee, respectively).