Reduction of organic sulfones, selenones and tellurones using magnesium and methanol as reductant

Abstract

A study regarding the deoxygenation of chalcogenide dioxides (selenones, tellurones and sulfones) to the respective chalcogenides using magnesium and methanol as reductant, has been reported. The magnesium catalyzed reaction was initiated by mercuric chloride at ambient temperature. The reactions are fast and are proceeding by Single electron transfer (SET) from magnesium. No desulphurization, deselenization or detellurization was observed in any case. The halogens attached to the aryl ring remained unaffected under these conditions.