Bis-Heteronucleophilic Michael Addition to Divinyl Sulfone: A New Efficient Access to Macrocycles

The Michael addition of bis(nitrogen or sulfur) nucleophiles to divinyl sulfone provides the corresponding macrocyclic adducts in good yields. The structures of some new macrocyclic sulfones are established by X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The subsequent cleavage of benzyl or tosyl groups yields the unprotected macrocyclic sulfones. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)