Phosphonium ylide catalysis: a divergent diastereoselective approach to synthesize cyclic ketene acetals [thia(zolidines/zinanes)] from β-ketothioamides and dihaloalkanes.

Phosphonium ylides are being reported here as a catalyst for the formation of thiazolidines and 1,3-thiazinanes from β-ketothioamides (which act as a three atom N, C, and S synthon) with dihaloalkanes via [3 + 2] and [3 + 3] annulations under metal-free conditions. An N,C,S-centred chemoselective dihaloalkane-controlled cascade process has been identified for the preparation of cyclic N,S-heterocycles (thiazolidines and 1,3-thiazinanes) from identical β-ketothioamides. The reaction proceeds via consecutive sulfur and nitrogen nucleophilic attack of the thioamide on dihaloalkanes enabling the formation of S-C and N-C bonds. The ring size of the skeletally distinct N,S-heterocycles has been efficiently tuned by switching the use of 1,2- and 1,3-dihaloalkanes as α,β- and α,γ-dielectrophiles. It is noteworthy that the products possess Z-stereochemistry with regard to the exocyclic C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double bond at the 2-position of the ring, revealing exclusive diastereoselectivity. Since phosphorus ylides have found limited use as catalysts, control experiments revealed their behaviour as a catalyst, which not only increase the catalyst tool box, but also would contribute to the field of ylide chemistry.