Oxidation of alkylthio substituted tricarbonyl(η6-arene)chromium(0) complexes to alkylsulfinyl substituted tricarbonyl(η6-arene)chromium(0) complexes

Abstract

Dimethyldioxirane efficiently oxidises tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes of alkylthio substituted arenes to tricarbonylchromium(0) complexes of alkylsulfinyl substituted arenes. The diastereoselectivity of oxidation of ortho substituted complexes, which was determined by inter alia X-ray crystal structure analyses of tricarbonyl[η⁶-1-methoxy-2-(methylsulfinyl)benzene]- chromium(0)20_x, [η⁶-1-(tert-butylsulfinyl)-2-methoxybenzene]tricarbonylchromium(0)23_x and tricarbonyl[η⁶-1-(ethylsulfinyl)-2-methoxybenzene]chromium(0)21_y, is dependent on the alkylthio substituent and is reversed when this substituent is changed from methylthio to tert-butylthio.