The scope and limitation of the [1,4]-SPh shift in the synthesis of allylic alcohols

Abstract

Treatment of a series of 4-phenylsulfanyl-1,3-diols with toluene-p-sulfonyl chloride in pyridine gives stereospecifically substituted allylic alcohols in near quantitative yield via a [1,4]-SPh shift. We comment on the structural variation at both the migration origin and terminus on the outcome of the title reaction and define its limits.