A reagent to access methyl sulfones

A chemical reagent to access methyl sulfones has been developed. Its reaction with various bis-nucleophiles leads to the rapid formation of previously unknown heteroaromatic methyl sulfones. Analogous strategy can also be used to construct alkyl-, CHF2-, CF3- and even bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane-containing derivatives. These compounds have been demonstrated to have a high potential for use in medicinal chemistry and coordination chemistry. Methyl sulfone is a standard polar substituent used in chemistry and can be found in different agro chemicals or drugs but due to lack of convenient and efficient chemical approaches to them, heteroaromatic methyl sulfones are less investigated. Here the authors report a reagent to access previously unknown heteroaromatic methyl sulfones.