ASYMMETRIC 1,3-DIPOLAR CYCLOADDITION OF CHIRAL SULPHINYLETHENES WITH 1-METHYL-3-OXIDOPYRIDINIUM AND SOME NITRONES

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of (R)-(+)-p-tolyl vinyl sulphoxide 1 with 1-methyl-3-oxidopyridinium 6 proceeded in a diastereoselective manner to afford the exo and endo cycloadducts 11a,b and 12a in 36%, 7% and 29% yield, respectively. The absolute configuration of 11a was determined by its transformation to (1S)-(-)-2-alpha-tropanol (-)-15. Attempts to the cycloaddition of the sulphinylethenes 17-19 with the pyridinium 6 were unsuccessful under several conditions. The reaction of the sulphoxide 20 with pyrroline 1-oxide 21 gave an inseparable mixture of products. The cycloaddition of 20 with 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine 1-oxide 22 afforded a mixture of four adducts in ca. 90% yield. High level of diastereoselectivity was achieved for the endo cycloaddition affording the adduct 23 in 33% isolated yield. The absolute configuration of 23 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The stereochemical course of the reaction was discussed based on the absolute configuration of the products.