Catalytic and direct methyl sulfonylation of alkenes and alkynes using a methyl sulfonyl radical generated from a DMSO, dioxygen and copper system

Abstract

This paper describes an efficient method to β-keto methyl sulfones and (E)-vinyl methyl sulfones using DMSO as the substrate. The methyl sulfonyl radical generated from DMSO in the presence of catalytic Cu(I) under O₂ atmosphere is believed to be involved in this reaction. Isotopic labeling and ¹⁸O₂ experiments were performed to investigate the reaction mechanism.