Metal-free iodosulfonylation of alkynes to access (<i>E</i>)-β-iodovinyl sulfones in water

With the escalating concerns regarding environmental pollution caused by organic solvents, chemists are increasingly focusing on conducting organic reactions in water, nature's chosen solvent for chemical synthesis. Herein, the development of metal-free iodosulfonylation of alkynes with <i>p</i>-toluenesulfonyl cyanide and NIS for the synthesis of (<i>E</i>)-β-iodovinyl sulfones in water is reported. This reaction gives the desired products in good to excellent yields with high regio- and stereoselectivity by using water as a green solvent at room temperature. This reaction could be readily scaled up, and synthetic application was also studied.