Iron‐Catalyzed Carbenoid Transfer Reactions of Vinyl Sulfoxonium Ylides: An Experimental and Computational Study

Abstract

A method for the generation of unprecedented vinyl carbenoids from sulfoxonium ylides has been developed and applied in the synthesis of a diverse array of heterocycles such as indolizines, pyrroles, 3‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones, and furans. The reactions proceed by FeBr₂ catalysis under mild reaction conditions with a broad substrate scope. A reaction pathway involving iron carbenoids is proposed based on a series of control experiments and DFT calculations.