Stereoselectivity in Cross-Coupling of α-Bromo Sulfoxides and Arylboronic Acids

Significance

This is the first report concerning a mechanistic study of still rather uncommon C_sp ³-C_sp ² cross-coupling reactions. The whole process was shown to proceed with inversion of the configuration, which takes place on the palladium oxidative addition step. Since enantiopure aryl sulf­oxides are readily available, this method has also a significant synthetic utility for the preparation of various chiral target molecules.