Hydrocarbon-Involved Sulfoxide Deoxygenation via Bifunctional Iron-Enabled Electron Buffering and Ligand-to-Metal Charge Transfer

Organic Letters 2026

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Authors: Lifang Wang, Bolin Qiao, Wenlong He, Ran Xu, Shuyang Liu, Hui Zi, Fangyi Qu, Ziyi Xu, Ruixiao Tian, Shi-Jun Li, Yu Lan, Yunhe Jin
DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.6c00033
Cited by: 2
References: 60

Abstract

Sulfur-containing compounds are essential motifs of natural molecules. We herein report a photoinduced iron-catalyzed strategy for efficient sulfoxide deoxygenation under mild conditions. The iron catalyst as the sole additive acts dually: it activates hydrocarbon reductants (also as a solvent) via a ligand-to-metal charge transfer pathway and serves as an "electron buffer" to regulate subsequent electron transfer. This unique mechanism enables a non-chromatography protocol with high efficiency (majority at >95%, up to 99%) and selectivity. The operationally simple method exhibits broad functional group tolerance and wide application in late-stage transformation of drug-derived sulfoxides into bioactive sulfides.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Sulfur-Based Synthesis Techniques Radical Photochemical Reactions Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions

Publication details

Journal / source
Organic Letters
Publisher
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Volume
28
Issue
6
Pages
2171–2177
Publication date
3 February 2026
Language
EN