Mesylate formation phenol

Alkanesulfonyl chlorides can also react by an initial elimination in water, mesyl chloride hydrolyses below pH 6.7 by an S 2 reaction of water at sulfur, between pH 6.7 an 11.8 by capture of the sulfene by water and above pH 11.8 by capture of the sulfene with hydroxide ion. An extended study of mesylations of phenols catalysed by various pyridines revealed a competition between the sulfene pathway and a general base-catalysed attack of the phenol, which was dependent on the pAa of both phenol and pyridine, with no mention of an A-mesylpyridinium ion. However, formation of an A-triflylpyr-idinium ion occurs immediately pyridine and triffic anhydride are mixed and this is probably the triflating species. Reaction via an A-sulfonyl quaternary ammonium ion therefore becomes important with more basic amines and more electrophilic sulfonylating reagents. 

The synthesis of organozinc compounds by electrochemical processes from either low reactive halogenated substrates (alkyl chlorides) or pseudo-halogenated substrates (phenol derivatives, mesylates, triflates etc.) remains an important challenge. Indeed, as mentioned above, the use of electrolytic zinc prepared from the reduction of a metal halide or from zinc(II) ions does not appear to be a convenient method. However, recent work reported by Tokuda and coworkers would suggest that the electroreduction of a zinc(II) species in the presence of naphthalene leads to the formation of a very active zinc capable of reacting even with low reactive substrates (equation 23)11. 

The phenolic OH group can be removed by Pd-catalysed hydrogenolysis of its triflate 522 with triethylammonium formate [261]. Naphthol can be converted to naphthalene by the hydrogenolysis of its triflate. The Ni-catalysed reduction of aryl mesylates 523 is possible using MeOH and Zn as the hydrogen donor [262]. Smooth removal of phenol groups as triflates and mesylates is not possible by any other means. 

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