TMSCl-promoted allylic phosphorothiolation and intermolecular difunctionalization of alkenes.

Herein, we describe a TMSCl-promoted, divergent strategy for the synthesis of structurally diverse S-alkyl phosphorothioates from various classes of olefins using N-phosphorothiosuccinimide as the phosphorothiolation reagent. For aromatic trisubstituted and 1,1-disubstituted olefins, the reaction proceeds via regioselective allylic phosphorothiolation. In the case of aliphatic 1,1-disubstituted olefins, an electrophilic intermolecular phosphorothiolation-difunctionalization is achieved. Interestingly, with (1-cyclopropylvinyl)benzene, a 1,5-chlorophosphorothiolation product is obtained via allylic ring-opening reaction. This operationally simple and scalable method enables direct transfer of the -SP(O)(OR)2 moiety and offers opportunities for further synthetic elaboration.