Multicomponent Sulfonylation of Alkenes to Access β-Substituted Arylsulfones.

A novel multicomponent sulfonylation of alkenes is described for the assembly of various β-substituted arylsulfones using cheap and easily available K2S2O5 as a sulfur dioxide source. Of note, the procedure does not need any extra oxidants and metal catalysts and exhibits a relatively wide substrate scope and good functional group compatibility. Mechanistically, an initial arylsulfonyl radical is formed involving the insertion of sulfur dioxide with aryl diazonium salt, followed by alkoxyarylsulfonylation or hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes.