Process for the preparation of aryl alkyl sulfones and aryl vinyl sulfones

摘要

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of aryl alkyl sulfones and aryl vinyl sulfones. The process comprises reacting an aryl compound with an alkyl sulfonyl fluoride or with a vinyl sulfonyl fluoride in the presence of a catalyst selected from AlCl.sub.3 and AlBr. sub.3. The aryl compound is preferably selected from chlorobenzene, the isomeric xylenes, the isomeric trimethyl benzenes, and mixtures thereof. The alkyl group of the alkyl sulfonyl fluoride preferably contains 1-18 carbon atoms, and the vinyl group of the vinyl sulfonyl fluoride is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more alkyl groups containing 1-5 carbon atoms. The reaction is conducted at a temperature between about - 25° C. and 150° C. in the presence or absence of an inert solvent.