5-Mercaptotetrazoles as synthetic equivalents of nitrogen-containing functional groups. The case of the organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Michael reaction

Org Lett. 2011 Jan 21;13(2):336-9. doi: 10.1021/ol102892f. Epub 2010 Dec 8.

Abstract

5-Mercaptotetrazoles have been identified as useful and versatile Michael donors in enantioselective amine-catalyzed aza-Michael reactions with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, showing excellent behavior as N-nucleophiles instead of their usual trend to react as S-nucleophiles. In addition several unprecedented chemical modifications on the tetrazolothione moiety have been carried out leading to the enantioselective preparation of different compounds incorporating nitrogen-containing functionalities such as oxazinimines, formamidines, ureas and isoureas.