Mild preparation of alkenes from phenyl sulfides: one-pot elimination of phenylthio group via sulfilimine at ambient temperature.

[Structure: see text] Various alkenes were prepared from phenyl sulfides in a one-pot manner at room temperature by converting them to the corresponding S-aminosulfonium salts with O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine, followed by treatment with potassium carbonate. Alkenes were formed by cis-elimination of in situ generated phenyl sulfilimines.