Ethenesulfonyl Fluoride (ESF): An On-Water Procedure for the Kilogram-Scale Preparation

Abstract

A two-step, on-water procedure for the synthesis of ethenesulfonyl fluoride (ESF) is described. 2-Chloroethanesulfonyl fluoride is made via a neat reaction with an aqueous, nearly saturated potassium bifluoride solution from readily available 2-chloroethanesulfonyl chloride. The subsequent dehydrochlorination of 2-chloroethanesulfonyl fluoride proceeds neatly with magnesium oxide as the base in an aqueous suspension to give ESF. This recipe allows the preparation of ESF in 98% yield on a kilogram scale.