Direct Metal- and Reagent-Free Sulfonylation of Phenols with Sodium Sulfinates by Electrosynthesis.

A novel electrochemical strategy for the synthesis of aryl sulfones by direct sulfonylation of phenols with sodium sulfinates has been developed. The C,S-coupling products are of particular interest for chemical synthesis, material sciences and pharmaceutical sciences. By using this metal- and reagent-free electrochemical method, aryl and diaryl sulfones can be obtained directly in good yields. The established one-step protocol is easy to perform, scalable, inherently safe, and enables a broad scope, which is not limited by quinoid-forming substrates.