Transition-Metal-Free Regioselective One-Pot Synthesis of Aryl Sulfones from Sodium Sulfinates via Quinone Imine Ketal.

A novel, efficient, and regioselective transition-metal-free one-pot synthesis of aryl sulfones via the reactive quinone imine ketal intermediate is demonstrated using easily accessible bench-stable sulfinate salts. A broad range of functionality on p-anisidine substrates as well as sulfinate salts was tolerated under mild reaction conditions to provide the corresponding aryl sulfones in good to excellent yields.