Reactions of Saturated Sulphones

Reactions of Saturated Sulphones.—Applications of sulphones in synthesis are discussed in a later section, and sulphonyl-stabilized carbanions are dealt with elsewhere in this Volume. This section is therefore concerned with reactions of saturated alkyl and aryl sulphones, particularly C—S bond cleavage reactions, on which many applications of sulphones in synthesis depend. 

An intramolecular electron-transfer/radical anion mechanism has been advocated for the Truce-Smiles-type rearrangement of t-butyl aryl sulphones by Bu Li at —78 C, orf Ao-lithiation of the aryl moiety being followed by migration of the t-butyl group to the metallated site. Other methods of C—S bond cleavage that are covered in recent papers include photolysis and electrochemical reduction,  

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