Polarography of electrophilic alkenes and alkynes bearing sulphonyl, sulphinyl, and sulphonium groups

Abstract

Polarographic half-wave potentials have been obtained for a series of substrates bearing sulphonyl, sulphinyl, sulphonium, and other related substituents. The ease of polarographic reduction is discussed with relation to the structures of the substrates in terms of the stability of anionic intermediates. Comparisons are drawn with work on nucleophilic additions to these and related substrates, and the dependence of half-wave potential on the pH value of the medium employed is related to the ease of prototropy in the substrates concerned.