Divergent, Regio- and Stereoselective Route for Aryl Sulfones from Morita–Baylis–Hillman Acetates

A divergent route for regio- and stereoselective synthesis of aryl sulfones was reported from the reaction of Morita–Baylis–Hillman acetates with sodium sulfinate in the presence of DABCO as a hindered nucleophilic base. This is the first report that describes the formation of both α-substituted and γ-substituted (SN2′-substituted) products selectively under controlled reaction. This route furnished the expected aryl sulfone in good to excellent yields in a very short reaction time with high regio- and stereoselectivity.