Preparation of Alkyl Alkynyl Sulfones and Cyclic Vinyl Sulfones from Alkynyl(aryl)iodonium Salts.

The reaction of alkyl sulfinates with alkynyl(aryl)iodonium salts provides a facile access into otherwise difficult to obtain alkyl alkynyl sulfones and cyclic vinyl sulfones via 1,2-rearrangement or 1,5-CH insertion, respectively. In benzyl sulfinates, 1,5-CH insertion is not possible, so addition to the aromatic ring occurs, followed by ring expansion to generate novel bicyclic sulfones.