Reactions of the carbanion of chloromethyl methyl sulfone with aldehydes and ketones

Addition of the carbanion of chloromethyl methyl sulfone to aldehydes and ketones proceeds faster than its degradation via the Ramberg–Baecklund reaction. Chlorohydrins and oxiranes produced from aldehydes treated with an excess of base undergo the Ramberg–Baecklund reaction giving allylic alcohols, whereas the reaction of ketones gives the oxiranes.