Abstract
The application of alkylsulfonium salts as alkyl-transfer reagents in organic synthesis
has reemerged over the past few years. Numerous heteroatom- and carbon-centered nucleophiles,
alkenes, arenes, alkynes, organometallic reagents, and others are readily alkylated
by alkylsulfonium salts under mild conditions. The reactions feature convenience,
high efficiency, readily accessible and structurally diversified alkylation reagents,
good functional group tolerance, and a wide range of substrate types, allowing the
facile synthesis of various useful organic molecules from commercially available building
blocks. This review summarizes alkylation reactions using either isolated or in situ
formed alkylsulfonium salts via nucleophilic substitution, transition-metal-catalyzed
reactions, and photoredox processes.
1 Introduction
2 General Methods for the Synthesis of Alkylsulfonium Salts
3 Electrophilic Alkylation Using Alkylsulfonium Salts
4 Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Alkylation Using Alkylsulfonium Salts
5 Photoredox-Catalyzed Alkylation Using Alkylsulfonium Salts
6 Conclusion
Key words
alkylsulfonium - alkylation - nucleophiles - metal-catalyzed - photoredox