Rh(II)-Catalyzed [2,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Sulfur Ylides Derived from Cyclopropenes and Sulfides

A new type of Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfur ylides is reported. A series of cyclopropenes were successfully employed for [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement by a reaction with either allylic or propargylic sulfides. Under the optimized conditions, the reaction afforded the products in moderate to excellent yields. In these transformations, the vinyl metal carbenes generated in situ from the cyclopropenes were effectively trapped by sulfides, resulting in the formation of corresponding products upon [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements.