New synthesis of allylidenecyclobutanes by the reaction of cyclobutylmagnesium carbenoids with vinyl sulfones

The reaction of cyclobutylmagnesium carbenoids, which were generated from 1-chlorocyclobutyl p-tolyl sulfoxides with EtMgCl via the sulfoxide–magnesium exchange reaction at low temperature, with carbanions derived from vinyl sulfones with n-BuLi or LDA resulted in the formation of allylidenecyclobutanes in moderate to good yields. The actual reactive species of the sulfones in this reaction were proved to be the lithium α-sulfonyl carbanion of allyl sulfones derived from the vinyl sulfones by double bond migration with the bases used. Mono- and di-substituted allylidenecyclobutanes can be obtained by using a variety of vinyl sulfones.