A facile one-pot synthesis of β-keto sulfones from ketones under solvent-free conditions

An easy solvent-free method is described for the conversion of ketones into β-keto sulfones in high yields that involves the in situ generation of α-tosyloxyketones, followed by nucleophilic substitution with sodium arene sulfinate in the presence of tetra-butylammonium bromide at room temperature. The salient features of this one-pot protocol are short reaction times, cleaner reaction profiles, and simple work-up that precludes the use of toxic solvents.