Evidence against reversible Wittig reaction of a stabilized ylide: high (E)-olefin selectivity under kinetic control

Tandem Wittig/Diels–Alder diversification of genetically encoded peptide libraries

In this paper, we developed a tandem of two carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions to chemically diversify libraries of peptides displayed on a bacteriophage.

Experimental Demonstration of Base-Catalyzed Interconversion of Isomeric Betaine Intermediates in the Corey−Chaykovsky Epoxidation

The collapse of hydroxysulfonium salts has been examined as a model for the epoxidation of aldehydes. The anti diastereomer reacted with retention of stereochemistry and no crossover, while the syn diastereomer gave crossover products along with cis and trans epoxides. Deprotonation and reprotonation on the carbon of the alpha-hydroxy sulfonium ylide is presumed responsible for production of the trans epoxide. This reaction pathway has been proposed to explain losses of enantioselectivity but never directly observed.

Studies in Heteroelement-Based Synthesis

An account of studies in our group over 30 years is presented, with highlights taken from events that began with our plans for medium ring synthesis, but were soon diverted to organophosphorus chemistry, and that eventually resulted in the investigation of sulfur ylide ring expansions, thiocarbonyl chemistry, azomethine ylides, organotin and organoboron methodology, and control of relative and absolute configuration.