The synthesis and efficacy of preparing Cbz-VG-OMe (1) by thermolysis of alkyl and aryl homocysteine sulfoxides were surveyed. This investigation determined that aryl sulfoxide analogs were more effective for the reaction and that the 2-nitrophenyl analog 10f possessed a unique ability to syn eliminate at temperatures as low as 100° C. The thermolysis of sulfoxide 10f was additionally discovered to occur under toluene reflux and ...