Improved synthesis of trifluoromethyl sulfones used as intermediates for the preparation of di- or tri-substituted olefins

Abstract Primary and secondary trifluoromethyl sulfones (triflones) are efficiently obtained from easily available sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (triflinate) and alkyl bromides in N,N-dimethylacetamide. This technique is more powerful than the potassium triflinate/acetonitrile system. Ethyl aconitate can be also produced in one step from ethyl bromoacetate and diisopropylethylamine, sodium triflinate being a catalyst.