Département de chimie moléculaire

Catalysis using G-quadruplexes (G-4) has shown promise as a way to perform asymmetric sulfoxidation of thioanisole derivatives. However, despite the relative simplicity of G-4, the mechanism of chiral control of sulfoxidation is still unknown, mainly because G-4 can adopt different topologies. To better understand the mechanism of G-4-catalyzed sulfoxidation, we chemically constrained G-4 into a unique topology. We show that either sulfoxidation can occur at the outer tetrads or at the grooves of G-4 and that different enantiomers can be generated depending on the region where catalysis occurs. Thus, thanks to our G-4 mimics, we can unravel the enantioselective control of the sulfoxidation reaction.