S,C-sulfonium ylides from thiophenes: potential carbene precursors

J Am Chem Soc. 2007 Dec 26;129(51):15746-7. doi: 10.1021/ja076351w. Epub 2007 Dec 6.

Abstract

Photolysis of S,C-sulfonium ylides derived from thioanisol, thiophene, benzothiophene, or dibenzothiophene provides products deriving from dicarbomethoxycarbene. In methanol, no rearrangement of the carbene to the ketene derivative is observed. Formation of dibenzothiophene and benzothiophene is quantitative. For the thiophene-based ylide, insertion of the carbene into the alpha-CH bond of thiophene is observed. Evidence is presented that supports formation of both singlet and triplet carbene.