Selective sulfonylation of 1,2-diols and derivatives catalyzed by a recoverable fluorous tin oxide

Fluorous tin oxide (C6F13CH2CH2)2SnO is readily synthesized, exhibits spectra that are generally similar to dibutyltin oxide and appears to exist as an oligomer or polymer. The fluorous tin oxide can be used catalytically to effect the selective monotosylation of 1,2-diols with TsCl/Et3N, and it can be readily recovered and reused.