Synthesis of Vinylsulfones Via Palladium-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Cinnamic Acids with Aromatic Sulfinic Acid Sodium Salts

A highly efficient synthesis of vinylsulfones was achieved via decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction of cinnamic acids with aromatic sulfinic acid sodium salts catalyzed by Pd(OAc)(2) and dppb in the presence of Ag2CO3. The reaction was found to furnish various vinylsulfones in good yields instead of the expected desulfitative product stilbenes. Mechanistic investigation also suggested that the decarboxylation is likely to take place after the transmetallation step.