ω-Methylsulfanylalkyl Glucosinolates: A General Synthetic Pathway.

A general pathway was devised to synthesize ω-methylsulfanylalkyl glucosinolates, which represent an important class of structurally homogeneous plant secondary metabolites. The required thiofunctionalized hydroximoyl chlorides were obtained from the corresponding α,ω-nitroalkyl methylsulfide precursors, involving as the key-step, a nitronate chlorination strategy. A coupling reaction with 1-thio-beta-d-glucopyranose, followed by O-sulfation of the intermediate thiohydroximate and final deprotection of the sugar moiety afforded the target compounds.