Copper-Catalyzed Nitrogen Loss of Sulfonylhydrazones: A Reductive Strategy for the Synthesis of Sulfones from Carbonyl Compounds

An efficient method for the synthesis of sulfones via nitrogen loss of sulfonyl hydrazones is described. The reaction was performed in the presence of simple copper salt and base by utilization of sulfonyl hydrazones, which were easily prepared from carbonyl compounds. A wide variety of aryl and alkyl sulfones were obtained in moderate to good yields.