p-Anisaldehyde-Photosensitized Sulfonylcyanation of Chiral Cyclobutenes: Enantioselective Access to Cyclic and Acyclic Systems Bearing All-Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

The photosensitized p-anisaldehyde-mediated addition of sulfonylcyanides onto the π-system of cyclobutenes is shown to afford highly functionalized cyclobutanes in high yields and diastereocontrol. The homochiral cyclobutene precursors are accessible on multigram scale in two steps through an asymmetric [2 + 2] cycloaddition/vinyl thioether reduction sequence. The enantiopure cyclobutylnitriles can be elaborated further through SmI2-mediated ring opening or converted into new enantiopure cyclobutenes through base-mediated sulfone elimination.