TRIMETHYLSILYLBENZENESULFONATE is used for the lithio anion reacts with carbonyl compounds to afford vinyl sulfones via a modified Peterson alkenation procedure; double alkylation, reduction, and sila-Pummerer rearrangement provides ketones.
1. Craig, D.; Ley, S. V.; Simpkins, N. S.; Whitham, G. H.; Prior, M. J. JCS(P1) 1985, 1949.
2. Cooper, G. D. JACS 1954, 76, 3713.
Trimethylsilylbenzenesulfonate can be readily synthesized via several routes,1of which the most suitable for large-scale preparation involves the reaction of sodium thiophenolate with (Chloromethyl)trimethylsilane, the sulfide obtained then being oxidized to the sulfone with buffered Peracetic Acid.2
Fractionate it at high vacuum and recrystallise it from pentane at -80o. If too impure (cf IR), dissolve it in CH2Cl2 (ca 800mL for 100g), wash this with 2M aqueous NaOH (2 x 200mL), brine, dry, evaporate and distil it. [Craig et al. J Chem Soc, Perkin Trans 1 1949 1985, IR and NMR: Cooper J Am Chem Soc 76 3713 1954.]
