Reactions of cyclopentadienyl(phosphine)-(α-benzenesulfonylalkyl)nickel complexes; formation of aldehydes and alkenes from sulfones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(90)87184-F

Three reactions of the cyclopentadienyl(phosphine)(α-benzenesulfonylalkyl)nickel complexes have been investigated: (i) oxidation with oxygen is shown to provide a new and efficient method of preparing aldehydes from sulfones; (ii) treatment with strong Lewis acids gives the corresponding terminal alkenes (the mechanism is briefly discussed); (iii) deprotonation by strong bases gives an anionic species which can in turn be alkylated by iodomethane.