Temperature-controlled selective reduction of arenesulfonyl chlorides promoted by samarium metal in DMF

Promoted by samarium in DMF, arenesulfonyl chlorides can be selectively reduced to diaryldisulfones, diarylthiosulfonates and diaryldisulfides in good to excellent yields by reaction temperature control without the need to pretreat or activate the metallic samarium. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.