Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)
Published on: May 20, 2019
Vinyl sulfones: synthetic preparations and medicinal chemistry applications
D Christopher Meadows1, Jacquelyn Gervay-Hague
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Abstract:
Vinyl sulfones have long been known for their synthetic utility in organic chemistry, easily participating in 1,4-addition reactions and cycloaddition reactions. This functional group has also recently been shown to potently inhibit a variety of enzymatic processes providing unique properties for drug design and medicinal chemistry. This review includes traditional methods used for the synthesis of vinyl sulfones, but focuses mainly on newer reactions applied to vinyl sulfones, including olefin metathesis, conjugate reduction, asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD), and the use of vinyl sulfones to arrive at highly functionalized targets, all illustrating the rich and versatile chemistry this group can efficiently perform. In addition, geminal disulfones are discussed with respect to their formation, reactions, and medicinal applications of this underutilized functional group.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Overview
Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
