Investigations pertaining to the rhodium(I)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to (arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles were undertaken. The resulting carbon-carbon bond forming reaction has led to the efficient synthesis of novel stereoselective (Z)-β-sulfonylvinylamines, which upon acidic hydrolysis, afford useful β-keto sulfones possessing a diverse range of aryl and sulfonyl substituents. The synthetic utility of these (Z)-β-sulfonylvinylamines was subsequently explored by generating the corresponding 1-aza-allyl anion equivalents under basic conditions. This interesting anionic intermediate was then introduced to various α,β-unsaturated systems to produce a diverse array of functionalized pyridine derivatives including unsymmetrical polysubstituted pyridines.

Investigations pertaining to the rhodium(I)-catalyzed addition of arylboronic acids to (arylsulfonyl)acetonitriles were undertaken. The resulting carbon-carbon bond forming reaction has led to the efficient synthesis of novel stereoselective (Z)-β-sulfonylvinylamines, which upon acidic hydrolysis, afford useful β-keto sulfones possessing a diverse range of aryl and sulfonyl substituents. The synthetic utility of these (Z)-β-sulfonylvinylamines was subsequently explored by generating the corresponding 1-aza-allyl anion equivalents under basic conditions. This interesting anionic intermediate was then introduced to various α,β-unsaturated systems to produce a diverse array of functionalized pyridine derivatives including unsymmetrical polysubstituted pyridines.