One-pot synthesis of aryl sulfones from organometallic reagents and iodonium salts.

A transition-metal-free arylation of lithium, magnesium, and zinc sulfinates with diaryliodonium salts is described. The sulfinic acid salts were prepared from the reaction of the corresponding organometallic reagents and sulfur dioxide. Combination of the three single steps (preparation of the organometallic compound, sulfinate formation, and arylation) leads to a one-pot sequence for the synthesis of aryl sulfones from simple starting materials. The chemoselectivity of unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts has been investigated. Potential and limitations of this method will be discussed.