Photoredox-catalyzed synthesis of sulfones through deaminative insertion of sulfur dioxide

Abstract

Katritzky salts are used as the alkyl radical precursors with the insertion of sulfur dioxide under photoredox catalysis. This transformation first enables direct generation of various alkylsulfonyl radicals by photoinduced single electron reduction, leading to diverse dialkyl sulfones in good to excellent yields. A radical pathway is proposed under visible-light induced conditions with the insertion of sulfur dioxide.