Asymmetric S‐Michael Reaction: Synthesis of CF2H‐Containing S‐Ether Compounds through Isosteric Replacement

Optical pharmaceutical important compounds which bring CF2H to mimic the role of –SH were synthesized through the asymmetric S-Michael addition reaction in the presence of quinine–a derived squaramide catalyst. Various sulfhydryl compounds including Benzyl mercaptan, phenthiol, alkyl thiophenol, mercaptoacetate, methyl 3-mercaptoacrylate, and 1,4-dithiane-2,5-diol were tested.   The broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and easy derivatization make this synthesis method very attractive.