Organic compounds in the field of chemistry range from simple hydrocarbons to complex molecules, with diverse functional groups added to the main carbon backbone. These functional groups impart distinct chemical properties to the compounds and participate in various chemical transformations, making them important precursors for the synthesis of more diverse compounds. Scientists have, therefore, actively engaged in creating molecules that feature novel and highly reactive functional groups.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A range of polysubstituted dibenzothiophene oxides can be synthesized through Br-selective coupling and subsequent cyclization by electrophilic activation. Credit: Suguru Yoshida from Tokyo University, from Chemical Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D3CC05703H One such class of compounds are dibenzothiophenes and their derivatives containing S-oxide or S,S-dioxide moieties (sulfur atoms bonded to one and two oxygen atoms respectively). These compounds are of special interest in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences, materials chemistry, and chemical biology. Dibenzothiophenes consist of benzene rings fused to a thiophene ring—a five-membered ring with four carbon atoms and one sulfur atom. When dibenzothiophene S-oxides are exposed to UV light, they release atomic oxygen, which is useful for DNA cleavage and oxidation of adenosine-S'-phosphosulfate kinase, an enzyme involved in cellular processes. In addition, the S–O bond can be activated to introduce different functional groups, enabling the creation of a wide range of molecules with diverse properties and applications. The conventional method of producing functionalized dibenzothiophene S-oxides involves thiophene ring formation followed by subsequent S-oxidation. However, this reaction is…