Easy access to α-carbonyl sulfones using cross-coupling of α-aryl-α-diazoesters with sulfonyl hydrazides

A facile synthesis of α-carbonyl sulfones has been accomplished by the cross-coupling of α-aryl-α-diazoesters with sulfonyl hydrazides in the presence of CuI and DBU. The reaction employs inexpensive and bench stable sulfonyl hydrazides as a sulfonyl source, and facilitates the migratory insertion with α-aryl-α-diazoesters under mild reaction conditions. Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of α-aryl-α-diazoesters with sulfonyl hydrazides is explored to access α-carbonyl sulfones via migratory insertion of Cu-carbene species.