Nickel catalyzed three-component sulfonylation of non-activated alkyl chlorides

We describe a nickel-catalyzed three-component sulfonylation of readily available non-activated alkyl chlorides. A wide range of alkyl aryl sulfones can be synthesized from alkyl chlorides, aryl boronic acids, and potassium metabisulfite, a cheap, efficient, and commercially available SO2 source under simple and easy-to-handle reaction conditions. High selectivity can be achieved with a slight excess of phenylboronic acid and a sulfur dioxide source.