Synthesis and applications of thiosulfonates and selenosulfonates as free-radical reagents

Chalcogenative sulfones (thiosulfonates and selenosulfonates), as reactants for organic transformations, are widely used and interesting because of their potential to react with nucleophiles, electrophiles, and free radicals. As stable radical reagents, the synthesis and applications of chalcogenative sulfones have opened up a novel pathway to synthesize many kinds of compounds containing sulfur or selenium motifs. However, despite the numerous recent works on the synthesis and applications of thiosulfonates and selenosulfonates as radical reagents, no review has yet provided a summary of the literature. In this paper, we aim to review the synthesis and applications strategies of chalcogenative sulfones as radical reagents reported over the past several decades. Different types of catalysis are discussed in this review: (i) metal catalysis; (ii) visible-light catalysis; (iii) synergistic catalysis; and (iiii) other types. Concurrently, in visible-light catalysis and metallaphotoredox catalysis sections, we highlight that developing relatively environmentally friendly synthetic methods in this area is always a great challenge, but also a persistent pursuit. Finally, the scopes, limitations, mechanisms, and existing problems of some reactions are described briefly.