Enantioselective synthesis of (thiolan-2-yl)diphenylmethanol and its application in asymmetric, catalytic sulfur ylide-mediated epoxidation.

This work describes an expeditious and efficient preparation of enantiopure (thiolan-2-yl)diphenylmethanol (2) featuring a double nucleophilic substitution and Shi epoxidation as key steps. One of the applications of its benzyl ether derivative to asymmetric sulfur ylide-mediated epoxidation with up to 92% ee (14 examples) was also demonstrated herein.