Chiral squaramide-catalysed one-pot enantioselective sulfa-Michael addition/thioesterification of thiols with α,β-unsaturated N-acylated succinimides

A novel highly enantioselective one-pot dithiolation through sulfa-Michael addition/thioesterification of thiols with α,β-unsaturated N-acylated succinimides catalysed by squaramide has been developed. This organocatalysed reaction proceeded well in high to excellent yields (up to >99%) to afford useful bioactive β-sulfated thioester derivatives with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).