N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis: Enantioselective Formal [2+2] Cycloaddition of Ketenes and N‐Sulfinylanilines

Sultam of swing: Both enantiomers of 1,2-thiazetidin-3-one oxides were obtained in very good yields with excellent enantioselectivities when using N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts (see scheme; M.S.=molecular sieves, TBS=tert-butyldimethylsilyl). The products were easily converted into 3-oxo-β-sultams, α-mercapto amides, and β-mercapto amines through oxidation or reduction. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.