Cascade synthesis of new aryl 2-phenylallyl sulfones from α-methylstyrene and aromatic mono- and bis-sulfonyl chlorides

Addition products of arenesulfonyl chlorides to α-methylstyrene in the presence of catalytic amounts of copper(II) chloride and triethylamine hydrochloride underwent fast dehydrochlorination (according to Hofmann’s rule) on heating in boiling acetonitrile to give the corresponding aryl 2-phenylallyl sulfones with high selectivity. This reaction underlay a one-pot procedure for the synthesis of new compounds that attract interest as potential biologically active substances, monomers, and cross-linking agents for polymeric materials from accessible starting compounds.