The Synthesis of (E)-Vinyl and Alkynyl Sulfones by the Formation of an Electron Donor-Acceptor Complex Using Thiosulfonates and Sodium Iodide Under Visible Light

A method for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones and alkynyl sulfones through the cleavage of thiosulfonate promoted by the formation of EDA complexes under visible light irradiation at room temperature without the need for other metal catalysts is described. The mechanism study shows that sodium iodide and thiosulfonate form EDA complexes under visible light irradiation, resulting in a single-electron transfer cleavage to generate sulfonyl radicals, which then react with olefins or alkynes to produce (E)-vinyl sulfones or alkynyl sulfones, respectively. This method is applicable to 44 olefin and alkyne substrates, with yields ranging from 38% to 90%, providing a radical synthesis approach for the preparation of sulfonylated compounds.