Catalytic asymmetric reactions of sulfenes

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Sulfur-containing functional groups- sulfides, sulfoxides, sulfenes, sulfonamides, sulfonates, etc.- are present in a vast array of biologically and pharmacologically important molecules, including biotin, lipoic acid, methionine, cysteine, taurine, anti-biotic  anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-asthma, anti-anemia, anti-viral, anti-psychotic, cardiotonic, anti-allergic and anti-migraine agents, as well as treatments for enlargement of the prostate gland and male erectile dysfunction. Included in this list are 14 of the 20 top grossing pharmaceuticals, with total sales of over $40 billion US in 2005 (US sales figures).Despite the presence of sulfur in all of these noteworthy clinical compounds, methods for installation of sulfur into molecules are far less developed than techniques for installing oxygen or nitrogen. The goal of our research is to develop general, broad scope methods for the construction of sulfur-containing molecules. The long term the success of this research would heavily impact the worlds of medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, leading to new, cheaper and more effective medicines.