Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfilimines via S-C bond formation

As the aza-analogues of sulfoxides, sulfilimines bearing S(iv) stereogenic centers hold tremendous potential in synthetic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. However, the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral sulfilimines has been much less extensively investigated compared to that of chiral sulfoxides. In addition to the well-established asymmetric imidation of sulfides, the catalytic enantioselective sulfur functionalization of sulfenamides, which provides an efficient and alternative approach to chiral sulfilimine synthesis, has received increasing attention and developed rapidly over the past two years. This highlight article summarizes and discusses the most recent advances in the catalytic asymmetric S-C bond-forming reactions for the preparation of chiral sulfilimines from sulfenamides.