The One-Pot Synthesis and Diels-Alder Reactivity of 2,5-Dihydrothiophene- 1,1-dioxide-3-carboxylic Acid

A one-pot preparation of 2,5-dihydrothiophene-1,1-dioxide-3-carboxylic acid (3-sulfolene-3-carboxylic acid) is reported. The carboxylation of 3-sulfolene, exclusively at the 3-position, using CO2 and DBU proceeds to >90% conversion. A rapid workup gives 3-sulfolene-3-carboxylic acid, a stable precursor to 1,3-butadiene-2-carboxylic acid. High conversions to Diels-Alder adducts were obtained upon treatment of 3-sulfolene-3-carboxylic acid with various dienophiles.