Not only sterically crowded
β-CF
3-
β,
β-disubstituted
α,
β-unsaturated arylsulphones are -less active dipolarophiles, but also it is difficult to separate their
E/
Z isomers. When isomerically pure (
E)−
1a or (
Z)−
1a was separately applied into two batches of 1, 3-DCR with
N-hydroxybenzimidoyl chloride
2a (nitrile oxide precursor) in the presence of Et
3N (2.5 equiv.), the same diastereomer
3a was unexpectedly delivered in around 48% yield after 48 h with > 20:1 dr and rr (
Table 1, entry 1). Much to our satisfaction, the 1, 3-DCR proceeded in a stereoconvergent manner. Based on the single crystal X-ray analysis, the relative configuration of
3a (CCDC: 1888500) was established, and it was found that the two adjacent Ph and SO
2(2-Py) moieties adopt
syn-orientation. For convenience, 3:1 or 4:1 (
E/
Z)-isomeric mixture of
1a after column chromatography was used in the following identifying conditions and nitrile oxide scope. The solvent effect study was carried out; in all of selected solvents the reaction proceeded in a stereoconvergent manner without affecting the diastereo- and regioselectivity, and the desired product was obtained in slightly lower yields (40%–55%, entries 2-5) compared to CH
2Cl
2 (60%, entry 6). Other bases
viz. DIPEA, K
2CO
3, Na
2CO
3 and Cs
2CO
3 in CH
2Cl
2 could not improve the yield (entries 7–10); however, when the amount of Cs
2CO
3 was reduced to 1.0 equiv, the yield was increased to 65% (entry 11), which was established as the optimal reaction condition for the 1, 3-DCR of nitrile oxides. The 1, 3-DCR of hydrazonyl halide
5a (nitrile imine precursor) and
1a (
E/
Z= 4:1) was also stereoconvergent, and the corresponding product
6aa was obtained in 68% yield with > 20:1 dr and rr (entry 12). The relative configuration of
6aa was established by single crystal X-ray analysis (CCDC: 1987192), where the two adjacent Ph and SO
2(2-Py) moieties also adopt
syn-orientation. The efficiency of the reaction was further improved by changing the solvent and base to EtOAc and K
2CO
3 (1.5 equiv.), respectively (95% yield, > 20:1 dr and rr, entry 13).