A Special Novel Sulfonylation Method and Its Potential Mechanism

Abstract Sulfonyl compounds, renowned for their distinctive chemical and biological properties, are gaining considerable attention for their applications in agriculture and environmental science. These compounds, characterized by the sulfonyl group bonded to organic groups, exhibit enhanced water solubility, polarity, and biodegradability, making them ideal for pest, pathogen, and weed control. This study focuses on a novel sulfonylation reaction that targets a sulfur–ether structure, exploring reaction conditions and mechanisms in detail. The direct formation of a sulfone from a sulfur ether and arylsulfonyl chloride, catalyzed by aluminum chloride under mild conditions, is presented as a significant and previously unobserved transformation. Substrate screening was carried out to determine the optimal substrate, which afforded the highest reaction yield of 44.9%. Reaction conditions, including solvent, temperature, atmosphere, and reaction time, were optimized to improve the product yield. Computational methods, including HOMO analysis, NBO charge distribution, electrostatic potential, and Fukui function, were employed to understand the molecular details and rationalize the reaction behavior. This study provides insights into the sulfonylation mechanism and deepens the understanding of sulfonyl compound synthesis for future applications in agrochemistry.