Copper-catalyzed S-arylation of Furanose-Fused Oxazolidine-2-thiones

The 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thiones (OZTs) are important chiral molecules, especially in asymmetric synthesis. These compounds serve as important active units in biologically active compounds. Herein, carbohydrate anchored OZTs were explored to develop a copper-catalyzed C-S bond formation with aryl iodides. Chemoselective S-arylation was observed, with copper iodide and dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) as the best ligand in dioxane at 60–90 °C. The corresponding chiral oxazolines were obtained in reasonable to good yields under relatively mild reaction conditions. This approach is cheap, as using one of the cheapest transition metals, a simple protocol and various functional group tolerance make it a valuable strategy for getting S-substituted furanose-fused OZT. The structures of the novel carbohydrates were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and an HRMS analysis.


Introduction
Carbohydrate derivatives are an important class of bioactive compounds with a high density of functional groups [1]. Carbohydrates annulated with heterocycles demonstrate interesting biological properties, including fructose transporter protein GLUT5 inhibition and the selective inhibition of glycoside hydrolase O-GlcNAcase (OGA) or the dual inhibition of OGA and cholinesterases, which are relevant for new therapeutic candidates [2][3][4].
In the past few decades, chemists have paid considerable attention to modifying carbohydrate molecules, which has resulted in the development of innumerable techniques to obtain heteroannulated sugars. Amongst the various reported methods, the most common have used 1,2-annulation strategies such as metal-catalyzed reactions, Michael addition reactions, cycloaddition methods, radical-mediated reactions, or nucleophilic attacks [1]. For example, the formation of 1,2-annulated sugars, having substituted tetrahydropyran and tetrahydrofuran moieties, was investigated via Lewis acid-catalyzed silyl-Prins/alkyne-Prins reactions from appropriately substituted sugar alcohols [5]. Recently, a simple Pd(OAc) 2 -catalyzed strategy was presented using glucose and galactose for the synthesis of sugar-fused indolines via C-H activation/cyclization using the oxalyl group as an auxiliary protecting group [6]. Werz and co-workers explored a convenient approach to obtain carbohydrate-based chromans and isochromans using an intermolecular Pd-catalyzed domino reaction with the catalytic systems Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , [(tBu) 3 PH]BF 4 , and Cs 2 CO 3 or HN(iPr) 2 , as well as with microwave irradiation [7].
On the other hand, sulfur-containing compounds play an important role in organic synthesis and have been found in various natural products; they also appear in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials [8,9]. Notably in asymmetric synthesis, a small heterocycle, 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione (OZT), is a key molecule when chiral. Its Chemists have developed different methods of synthesis for OZT or have analyzed its potential as an asymmetric inducer [24,[28][29][30][31][32][33]. OZT connected to a carbohydrate backbone has been the subject of various studies to control the geometry of the carbohydrate structure using the specific chemistry of such heterocycles as well as to access new biologically active compounds [34]. The reactivity of OZT anchored on carbohydrates has been studied through classical reactions such as acylation, sulfonylation, and alkylation, as well as oxidation. OZT connected to carbohydrate templates were studied as precursors of 2alkyl or 2-aryl 1,3-oxazoline following a copper-promoted palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction called the Liebeskind-Srogl reaction, which uses a range of organoboronyl and organostannyl reagents [35][36][37]. Recently, carbohydrate-anchored OZTs were explored for the formation of iminosugars as inhibitors of glycosidases [38].
Herein, we present our preliminary results on the exploration of a chemoselective copper-catalyzed S-arylation reaction of aryl iodides with these unusual chiral oxazolidine-2-thiones anchored onto carbohydrate backbones. Copper-catalyzed S-arylation is a well-known process, but to our knowledge, it has not been applied to chiral OZT, or connected to carbohydrate backbones, in which the metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation has been scarcely explored [39][40][41]. Only a few examples have described the synthesis of Sarylated oxazolidinethiones, either through a one-pot procedure using isocyanide dichloride in a two-step approach [42] or using the reactivity of transient arynes with 2-oxazolidinethiones to obtain selective S-arylation [43].

Results and Discussion
The oxazolidine-2-thione moiety has two potential nucleophilic sites: sulfur and nitrogen atoms. Accordingly, both S-arylation and N-arylation may take place due to the Chemists have developed different methods of synthesis for OZT or have analyzed its potential as an asymmetric inducer [24,[28][29][30][31][32][33]. OZT connected to a carbohydrate backbone has been the subject of various studies to control the geometry of the carbohydrate structure using the specific chemistry of such heterocycles as well as to access new biologically active compounds [34]. The reactivity of OZT anchored on carbohydrates has been studied through classical reactions such as acylation, sulfonylation, and alkylation, as well as oxidation. OZT connected to carbohydrate templates were studied as precursors of 2-alkyl or 2-aryl 1,3-oxazoline following a copper-promoted palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction called the Liebeskind-Srogl reaction, which uses a range of organoboronyl and organostannyl reagents [35][36][37]. Recently, carbohydrate-anchored OZTs were explored for the formation of iminosugars as inhibitors of glycosidases [38].
Herein, we present our preliminary results on the exploration of a chemoselective copper-catalyzed S-arylation reaction of aryl iodides with these unusual chiral oxazolidine-2-thiones anchored onto carbohydrate backbones. Copper-catalyzed S-arylation is a wellknown process, but to our knowledge, it has not been applied to chiral OZT, or connected to carbohydrate backbones, in which the metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation has been scarcely explored [39][40][41]. Only a few examples have described the synthesis of S-arylated oxazolidinethiones, either through a one-pot procedure using isocyanide dichloride in a two-step approach [42] or using the reactivity of transient arynes with 2-oxazolidinethiones to obtain selective S-arylation [43].

Results and Discussion
The oxazolidine-2-thione moiety has two potential nucleophilic sites: sulfur and nitrogen atoms. Accordingly, both S-arylation and N-arylation may take place due to the existence of two tautomeric thione-thiol forms (Scheme 1). Sulfur, as a soft nucleophile, can prevail in the formation of S-arylated products in a cross-coupling reaction [44][45][46]. existence of two tautomeric thione-thiol forms (Scheme 1). Sulfur, as a soft nucleophile, can prevail in the formation of S-arylated products in a cross-coupling reaction [44][45][46]. D-arabinofuranose-, D-xylofuranose-, and D-ribofuranose-derived oxazolidine-2thiones 1-3 can easily be obtained from the corresponding carbohydrates using potassium thiocyanate under acidic conditions [2,36,47]. D-arabinose was chosen as the starting precursor in our study [48]. The protection of the hydroxyl groups was achieved with acetyl (Ac) or tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) groups, allowing the selective protection of the alcohols obtained without modifying the oxazolidinethione group [47,49,50] (Scheme 2). The reaction of D-arabinose OZT 1 with acetic anhydride in pyridine resulted in the preacetylated product-derivative 4 in a quantitative yield without any requirement for purification. The crude product was selectively deacetylated in a mixture of methanol and pyridine. These conditions resulted in an efficient selective deacetylation of the acyl-protected 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione vs. the ester group. The silylation process directly produced a selective protection of the hydroxyl groups of the three pentose OZTs 1, 2, and 3. The corresponding silyl-protected OZTs (6)(7)(8) were obtained in very good yields of 96%, 98%, and 95%, respectively.  D-arabinofuranose-, D-xylofuranose-, and D-ribofuranose-derived oxazolidine-2thiones 1-3 can easily be obtained from the corresponding carbohydrates using potassium thiocyanate under acidic conditions [2,36,47]. D-arabinose was chosen as the starting precursor in our study [48]. The protection of the hydroxyl groups was achieved with acetyl (Ac) or tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) groups, allowing the selective protection of the alcohols obtained without modifying the oxazolidinethione group [47,49,50] (Scheme 2). The reaction of D-arabinose OZT 1 with acetic anhydride in pyridine resulted in the preacetylated product-derivative 4 in a quantitative yield without any requirement for purification. The crude product was selectively deacetylated in a mixture of methanol and pyridine. These conditions resulted in an efficient selective deacetylation of the acyl-protected 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione vs. the ester group. The silylation process directly produced a selective protection of the hydroxyl groups of the three pentose OZTs 1, 2, and 3. The corresponding silyl-protected OZTs (6)(7)(8) were obtained in very good yields of 96%, 98%, and 95%, respectively. existence of two tautomeric thione-thiol forms (Scheme 1). Sulfur, as a soft nucleophile, can prevail in the formation of S-arylated products in a cross-coupling reaction [44][45][46]. D-arabinofuranose-, D-xylofuranose-, and D-ribofuranose-derived oxazolidine-2thiones 1-3 can easily be obtained from the corresponding carbohydrates using potassium thiocyanate under acidic conditions [2,36,47]. D-arabinose was chosen as the starting precursor in our study [48]. The protection of the hydroxyl groups was achieved with acetyl (Ac) or tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) groups, allowing the selective protection of the alcohols obtained without modifying the oxazolidinethione group [47,49,50] (Scheme 2). The reaction of D-arabinose OZT 1 with acetic anhydride in pyridine resulted in the preacetylated product-derivative 4 in a quantitative yield without any requirement for purification. The crude product was selectively deacetylated in a mixture of methanol and pyridine. These conditions resulted in an efficient selective deacetylation of the acyl-protected 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione vs. the ester group. The silylation process directly produced a selective protection of the hydroxyl groups of the three pentose OZTs 1, 2, and 3. The corresponding silyl-protected OZTs (6)(7)(8) were obtained in very good yields of 96%, 98%, and 95%, respectively. We decided to convert OZT 5 into the corresponding oxazolidin-2-one (OZO) derivative 10 (Scheme 3), which could then be tested with a Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. We have previously reported that the direct conversion of OZT derivatives to OZO derivatives by oxidation is not efficient [2]. Prior to oxidation, OZT template 5 required S-alkylation and was converted into the corresponding 2-benzylsulfanyloxazoline 9 at a 92% yield. After oxidation, OZO 10 was obtained at a 57% yield.
We decided to convert OZT 5 into the corresponding oxazolidin-2-one (OZO) derivative 10 (Scheme 3), which could then be tested with a Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. We have previously reported that the direct conversion of OZT derivatives to OZO derivatives by oxidation is not efficient [2]. Prior to oxidation, OZT template 5 required Salkylation and was converted into the corresponding 2-benzylsulfanyloxazoline 9 at a 92% yield. After oxidation, OZO 10 was obtained at a 57% yield. Copper-catalyzed coupling reactions was performed by applying standard conditions with various copper ligands and copper iodide, which was chosen for its air stability [51][52][53]. We first chose the D-arabino derivative 5 with 4-iodoanisole as a model substrate to optimize the catalytic S-arylation (Scheme 4, Table 1). As a control experiment ( Table 1, entry 1), no product was observed if the reaction conditions were carried out in the absence of the copper ligand. When the reaction was performed with 20 mol% of CuI and 40 mol% of dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) under basic conditions (Cs2CO3), C-S coupling was observed with a better, but lower, yield of 20% (Table 1, entry 3). A reduced or increased ratio of CuI and DMEDA did not improve the yields. A reduction in the temperature to 60 °C maintained the results at 35% (Table 1, entry 5). Thus, the 1:2 ratio was maintained and proved to be similar to other copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions [54].   Copper-catalyzed coupling reactions was performed by applying standard conditions with various copper ligands and copper iodide, which was chosen for its air stability [51][52][53]. We first chose the D-arabino derivative 5 with 4-iodoanisole as a model substrate to optimize the catalytic S-arylation (Scheme 4, Table 1). As a control experiment ( Table 1, entry 1), no product was observed if the reaction conditions were carried out in the absence of the copper ligand. When the reaction was performed with 20 mol% of CuI and 40 mol% of dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) under basic conditions (Cs 2 CO 3 ), C-S coupling was observed with a better, but lower, yield of 20% (Table 1, entry 3). A reduced or increased ratio of CuI and DMEDA did not improve the yields. A reduction in the temperature to 60 • C maintained the results at 35% (Table 1, entry 5). Thus, the 1:2 ratio was maintained and proved to be similar to other copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions [54].
We decided to convert OZT 5 into the corresponding oxazolidin-2-one (OZO) derivative 10 (Scheme 3), which could then be tested with a Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. We have previously reported that the direct conversion of OZT derivatives to OZO derivatives by oxidation is not efficient [2]. Prior to oxidation, OZT template 5 required Salkylation and was converted into the corresponding 2-benzylsulfanyloxazoline 9 at a 92% yield. After oxidation, OZO 10 was obtained at a 57% yield. Copper-catalyzed coupling reactions was performed by applying standard conditions with various copper ligands and copper iodide, which was chosen for its air stability [51][52][53]. We first chose the D-arabino derivative 5 with 4-iodoanisole as a model substrate to optimize the catalytic S-arylation (Scheme 4, Table 1). As a control experiment ( Table 1, entry 1), no product was observed if the reaction conditions were carried out in the absence of the copper ligand. When the reaction was performed with 20 mol% of CuI and 40 mol% of dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA) under basic conditions (Cs2CO3), C-S coupling was observed with a better, but lower, yield of 20% (Table 1, entry 3). A reduced or increased ratio of CuI and DMEDA did not improve the yields. A reduction in the temperature to 60 °C maintained the results at 35% (Table 1, entry 5). Thus, the 1:2 ratio was maintained and proved to be similar to other copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions [54].  Applying these conditions (Table 1, entry 6) to the silyl-protected OZT 6 resulted in a low yield of 22%. Pushing the conditions with a higher temperature (Table 1, entry 7) gave a much better yield of 69%. The ligands, including L-proline, DABCO, 2-aminopyridine, ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate, and 9,10-phenanthroline, were tested to enhance the C-S coupling reaction between OZT 6 and 4-iodoanisole using the conditions of entry 7 ( Table 1, entries 8-13). None of them were effective for this coupling reaction. The coupling reaction with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate L5 and DABCO L7 did not perform at all (Table 1, entries 11 and 13); in other cases, a degradation of the starting compound was observed (Table 1, entries 1, 8, 9 and 12). Only the 9,10-phenanthroline L4 showed reactivity, but its efficiency was worse (Table 1, entry 10). Of all these ligands, only DMEDA L1 was efficient in the C-S coupling reaction. As expected with benzylsulfanyloxazoline 9 and oxazolidinone 10, no coupling reaction was observed (Table 1, entries 14-15). Notably, only the S-arylation was observed; no N-arylation was detected, although the N-arylation of aryl halides has been shown to proceed under similar conditions [55][56][57]. In this case, S-arylation was preferred compared with N-arylation. Sulfur, as a soft nucleophile, favors an interaction with copper and occurs in the formation of S-arylated products in a cross-coupling reaction [44]. Furthermore, this can be explained by the mechanism of the copper-assisted nucleophilic substitution reaction [58]. In the intermediate catalysis step, the mercapto group mainly attacks the copper complex, which is a soft metal atom. Sulfur is a stronger nucleophile than nitrogen due to its nature of high polarizability, a large size, and more electron lone pairs [58].
Although the exact mechanism remains unknown for this Cu-catalyzed S-arylation process, there are valuable experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies of Cu-catalysed N-arylation [59][60][61]. Moreover, there are investigations that the formation of the Cu(I)complex nucleophile and the coupling product depends on the concentration of the ligand [62,63]. Applying optimized reaction conditions (Table 1, entry 7), the S-arylation reaction of 6 was explored with various functionalized aryl iodides (Scheme 5). The results are summarized in Table 2. Aryl iodides were chosen for their enhanced reactivity compared with other aryl halides. As shown in Table 2, D-arabinose derivative 6 reacted with various substituted aryl iodides, leading to the corresponding products 12-19 with low to good yields ( Figure 2). Applying these conditions ( Table 1, entry 6) to the silyl-protected OZT 6 resulted in a low yield of 22%. Pushing the conditions with a higher temperature (Table 1, entry 7) gave a much better yield of 69%. The ligands, including L-proline, DABCO, 2-aminopyridine, ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate, and 9,10-phenanthroline, were tested to enhance the C-S coupling reaction between OZT 6 and 4-iodoanisole using the conditions of entry 7 ( Table 1, entries [8][9][10][11][12][13]. None of them were effective for this coupling reaction. The coupling reaction with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexane-1-carboxylate L5 and DABCO L7 did not perform at all (Table 1, entries 11 and 13); in other cases, a degradation of the starting compound was observed (Table 1, entries 1, 8, 9 and 12). Only the 9,10-phenanthroline L4 showed reactivity, but its efficiency was worse (Table 1, entry 10). Of all these ligands, only DMEDA L1 was efficient in the C-S coupling reaction. As expected with benzylsulfanyloxazoline 9 and oxazolidinone 10, no coupling reaction was observed (Table 1, entries [14][15].
Notably, only the S-arylation was observed; no N-arylation was detected, although the N-arylation of aryl halides has been shown to proceed under similar conditions [55][56][57]. In this case, S-arylation was preferred compared with N-arylation. Sulfur, as a soft nucleophile, favors an interaction with copper and occurs in the formation of S-arylated products in a cross-coupling reaction [44]. Furthermore, this can be explained by the mechanism of the copper-assisted nucleophilic substitution reaction [58]. In the intermediate catalysis step, the mercapto group mainly attacks the copper complex, which is a soft metal atom. Sulfur is a stronger nucleophile than nitrogen due to its nature of high polarizability, a large size, and more electron lone pairs [58].
Although the exact mechanism remains unknown for this Cu-catalyzed S-arylation process, there are valuable experimental and theoretical mechanistic studies of Cu-catalysed N-arylation [59][60][61]. Moreover, there are investigations that the formation of the Cu(I)-complex nucleophile and the coupling product depends on the concentration of the ligand [62,63]. Applying optimized reaction conditions (Table 1, entry 7), the S-arylation reaction of 6 was explored with various functionalized aryl iodides (Scheme 5). The results are summarized in Table 2. Aryl iodides were chosen for their enhanced reactivity compared with other aryl halides. As shown in Table 2, D-arabinose derivative 6 reacted with various substituted aryl iodides, leading to the corresponding products 12-19 with low to good yields (Figure 2).     The aryl iodides with electron-donating groups (such as the methoxy group) and electron-withdrawing groups (such as the nitro group) obtained the desired S-aryl oxazolines in moderate to good yields ( Table 2, entries 1-6). No clear evidence of the electronic effect could be extracted from these results. Whether the substitution of iodobenzene was at the para-, meta-, or ortho-position, the C-S bond formation resulted in moderate yields and no effect of steric hindrance was clearly visible. On the contrary, the comparison of the orthosubstitution with ortho-fluorobenzene and ortho-trifluoromethyl benzene showed a significant drop in yields. The relatively poor yields obtained by performing the coupling reaction with ortho-substituted iodobenzene containing CF3 and F groups could be attributed to the instability of the compounds (Table 2, entries 7-8). Degradation could have occurred through the hydrolysis of phenylsulfanyloxazoline. When left under basic conditions, the formation of the corresponding oxazolidinone was detected.
The application of this cross-coupling reaction on D-xylose oxazolidine-2-thione 7 and D-ribose oxazolidine-2-thione 8 was explored using ortho-substituted iodobenzene derivatives (Scheme 6). The aryl iodides with electron-donating groups (such as the methoxy group) and electron-withdrawing groups (such as the nitro group) obtained the desired S-aryl oxazolines in moderate to good yields ( Table 2, entries 1-6). No clear evidence of the electronic effect could be extracted from these results. Whether the substitution of iodobenzene was at the para-, meta-, or ortho-position, the C-S bond formation resulted in moderate yields and no effect of steric hindrance was clearly visible. On the contrary, the comparison of the ortho-substitution with ortho-fluorobenzene and ortho-trifluoromethyl benzene showed a significant drop in yields. The relatively poor yields obtained by performing the coupling reaction with ortho-substituted iodobenzene containing CF 3 and F groups could be attributed to the instability of the compounds (Table 2, entries 7-8). Degradation could have occurred through the hydrolysis of phenylsulfanyloxazoline. When left under basic conditions, the formation of the corresponding oxazolidinone was detected.

General Information
Reactions in anhydrous conditions were performed under an argon atmosphere in pre-dried flasks, using anhydrous solvents (distilled, when necessary, according to D. D. Perrin, W. L. F. Armarego and D. R. Perrin in Purification of Laboratory Chemicals, Pergamon, Oxford, 1986). Molecular sieves were activated prior to use by heating for 4 h at 500 °C. All reagents were obtained from commercial chemical suppliers and used without further purification. The course of the reactions was monitored by an initial TLC analysis on precoated aluminum foil-backed plates (Merck Kieselgel 60 F254, Darmstadt, Germany). TLC results were visualized using standard visualization techniques or agents: UV fluorescence (254 nm) and staining with a 1% aq potassium permanganate solution or a heat treatment with a 10/85/5 mixture of sulfuric acid/ethanol/water. Flash column chromatography was performed with Silica Gel 60 Å (230-400 µm, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany). The melting points (°C) were measured with a Thermo Scientific 9200 capillary apparatus and are uncorrected. The NMR spectra were recorded on a 400 MHz Bruker Avance 2 spectrometer (Bruker BioSpin AG, Fallanden, Switzerland) (400 MHz ( 1 H), 100 MHz ( 13 C), and 376 MHz ( 19 F)). The chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (ppm) downfield from the TMS internal standard. The coupling patterns for 1 H NMR are designated as s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, and m = multiplet, (a few 13 C NMR are designated as d = doublet, and q = quartet); the coupling constants are given in Hz. The NMR peak assignments were elucidated via DEPT, COSY, and HSQC techniques for all reported compounds. The IR spectra from the samples in a neat form were measured with a Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS10 FT-IR spectrophotometer. IR absorption frequencies are given in cm -1 . Optical rotations were measured at 20 °C with a Perkin Elmer 341 polarimeter and were given in g -1 ⋅cm 3 ⋅dm -1 . Low-resolution mass spectra (MS) were recorded with a Perkin-Elmer Sciex API 300 spectrometer [ionspray (IS) mode] (PerkinElmer Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were recorded with a Bruker MaXis spectrometer [electrospray ionization (ESI) mode] (Bruker DaltonikGmbH, Bremen, Germany). 1 H, 13 C NMR spectra and HRMS data of all new compounds are provided in Supplementary Materials as Figures S1-S38.

General Information
Reactions in anhydrous conditions were performed under an argon atmosphere in pre-dried flasks, using anhydrous solvents (distilled, when necessary, according to D. D. Perrin, W. L. F. Armarego and D. R. Perrin in Purification of Laboratory Chemicals, Pergamon, Oxford, 1986). Molecular sieves were activated prior to use by heating for 4 h at 500 • C. All reagents were obtained from commercial chemical suppliers and used without further purification. The course of the reactions was monitored by an initial TLC analysis on precoated aluminum foil-backed plates (Merck Kieselgel 60 F 254 , Darmstadt, Germany). TLC results were visualized using standard visualization techniques or agents: UV fluorescence (254 nm) and staining with a 1% aq potassium permanganate solution or a heat treatment with a 10/85/5 mixture of sulfuric acid/ethanol/water. Flash column chromatography was performed with Silica Gel 60 Å (230-400 µm, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany). The melting points ( • C) were measured with a Thermo Scientific 9200 capillary apparatus and are uncorrected. The NMR spectra were recorded on a 400 MHz Bruker Avance 2 spectrometer (Bruker BioSpin AG, Fallanden, Switzerland) (400 MHz ( 1 H), 100 MHz ( 13 C), and 376 MHz ( 19 F)). The chemical shifts are expressed in parts per million (ppm) downfield from the TMS internal standard. The coupling patterns for 1 H NMR are designated as s = singlet, d = doublet, t = triplet, and m = multiplet, (a few 13 C NMR are designated as d = doublet, and q = quartet); the coupling constants are given in Hz. The NMR peak assignments were elucidated via DEPT, COSY, and HSQC techniques for all reported compounds. The IR spectra from the samples in a neat form were measured with a Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS10 FT-IR spectrophotometer. IR absorption frequencies are given in cm -1 . Optical rotations were measured at 20 • C with a Perkin Elmer 341 polarimeter and were given in g -1 ·cm 3 ·dm -1 . Low-resolution mass spectra (MS) were recorded with a Perkin-Elmer Sciex API 300 spectrometer [ionspray (IS) mode] (PerkinElmer Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). High-resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were recorded with a Bruker MaXis spectrometer [electrospray ionization (ESI) mode] (Bruker DaltonikGmbH, Bremen, Germany). 1 H, 13 C NMR spectra and HRMS data of all new compounds are provided in Supplementary Materials as Figures S1-S38.

Synthesis of 4,5-dihydro(3 ,5 -di-O-acetyl-1 ,2 -dideoxy-β-D-arabinofuranoso) -[1,2-d]-oxazolidine-2-one (10)
To a solution of compound 9 (270 mg, 0.75 mmol) in dry dichloromethane (5 mL), dry NaHCO 3 (188 mg, 2.24 mmol) was added. Then, the reaction mixture was cooled to 0 • C temperature under argon for 10 min, then m-CPBA (75%, 490 mg, 2.84 mmol) was added slowly. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred at 0 • C for 2 h. Then the reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with sat. aq. Na 2 S 2 O 5 solution, then sat. aq. NaHCO 3 solution, and finally dried over MgSO 4 . After filtration, the solvent was evaporated in vacuo. The obtained residue was purified by flash chromatography Compound 2 (600 mg, 3.14 mmol) was dissolved in dry DMF (6 mL). Imidazole (1079 mg, 15.85 mmol) and tret-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (1192 mg, 7.90 mmol) were then added at 0 • C temperature. Then, the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane and washed with water, then brine, and finally dried over One of the appropriate starting oxazolidine-2-thiones 5, 6, 7 or 8 (1 equiv), Cs 2 CO 3 (2 equiv), the copper iodide (0.2 equiv), and the iodide derivative (1.5 equiv) were dissolved in anhydrous dioxane (2 mL) in a round-bottom flask under argon. After 10 min, DMEDA (0.4 equiv) was added dropwise and the reaction was stirred at 60 • C or 90 • C for 24 h. The reaction was then allowed to cool to room temperature, and poured into a sat. aq NaCl (40 mL) solution and extracted with EtOAc (2 × 25 mL), then with H 2 O (1 × 10 mL), and dried over MgSO 4 . After the evaporation of the solvent, the residue was purified by flash chromatography using PE/EtOAc as an eluent to produce the desired products. The data for the selected compounds are described below.

Conclusions
In summary, our continuous efforts to study chiral 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione anchored onto carbohydrate templates allowed us to describe the application of a copper-catalyzed carbon-sulfur bond formation. Despite a few yield limitations, this methodology provided an alternative chemical tool for 1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione functionalization, and to the best of our knowledge, a unique method to link aromatic rings onto chiral thioamide-derived heterocycles. The structures of all of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by detailed NMR spectroscopy and HRMS investigations. A further investigation to broaden the scope of the reactions and their selectivity to other templates as well as coupling reactions is currently being undertaken.

Data Availability Statement:
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding authors.