Conformational Analysis of Acyclic α-Fluoro Sulfur Motifs

Bioactive small molecules containing α-fluoro sulfur motifs [RS(O)_n CH₂ F] are appearing with increasing frequency in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors. Prominent examples include the anti-asthma drug Flovent^® and the phenylpyrazole insecticide pyrafluprole. Given the popularity of these structural units in bioactive small molecule design, together with the varying oxidation states of sulfur, a conformational analysis of α-fluoro sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones, would be instructive in order to delineate the non-covalent interactions that manifest themselves in structure. A combined crystallographic and computational analysis demonstrates the importance of hyperconjugative donor-acceptor interactions in achieving acyclic conformational control. The conformational disparity in the syn- and anti-diastereoisomers of α-fluorosulfoxides is particularly noteworthy.