Catalytic multicomponent reaction between nitroalkanes, elemental sulfur, and oxiranes

An efficient multicomponent reaction of nitroalkanes and elemental sulfur with oxiranes was developed with the aid of silver salt. This reaction procedure provides a novel and practical strategy for the rapid assembly of 1,3-oxathiolane skeletons. The reaction exhibited remarkable functional group tolerability and regio-selectivity so that only one regio-isomer formed during the ring opening of oxiranes.