Photoredox Catalyzed Sulfonylation of Multisubstituted Allenes with Ru(bpy)3Cl2 or Rhodamine B

A highly regio- and stereoselective sulfonylation of allenes was developed that provided direct access to α, β-substituted unsaturated sulfone. By means of visible-light photoredox catalysis, the free radicals produced by p-toluenesulfonic acid reacted with multisubstituted allenes to obtain Markovnikov-type vinyl sulfones with Ru(bpy)3Cl2 or Rhodamine B as photocatalyst. The yield of this reaction could reach up to 91%. A series of unsaturated sulfones would be used for further transformation to some valuable compounds.