Tetrabutylammonium Iodide-Catalyzed Oxidative Coupling of Enol Acetates with Sodium Sulfinates: A Mild Access to β-Keto Sulfones

An efficient, one-pot, and metal-free catalytic synthesis of β-keto sulfones was developed through the oxidative sulfonylation of enol acetates with readily available sodium sulfinates. The protocol involves tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as a catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant at 60°C. The developed protocol offers such advantages as the use of commercially available inexpensive catalysts and oxidants and safe and environmentally benign conditions, and it provides a facile and mild access to a variety of β-keto sulfones.