REACTION OF ARYLMETHANESULFONYL AND STYRYLMETHANESULFONYL CHLORIDES WITH TRIETHYLAMINE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)81491-X

A series of arylmethanesulfonyl chlorides were treated with triethylamine in THF to give stilbenes in excellent yields.Workup of the mixtures below 10 deg C permits isolation of stilbene episulfones which on warming decompose to yield the corresponding stilbenes stereospecifically.Application of the reaction to 9-fluorenylsulfonyl chloride affords bifluorenylidene, while trans-styrylmethanesulfonyl chloride gives 4,5-dihydro-4,5-diphenylthiepin 1,1-dioxide and 1,6-diphenylhexatriene.