Desulfonylative Arylation of Redox-Active Alkyl Sulfones with Aryl Bromides

Herein we describe the development of the first reductive cross-electrophile coupling between alkyl sulfones and aryl bromides. The use of alkyl sulfones as coupling partners offers strategic advantages over other alkyl electrophiles used in reductive coupling reactions, as the sulfone moiety can be incorporated into molecules in unique ways and permits α-functionalization prior to coupling. The conditions developed here can be applied to incorporate a wide array of aromatic rings onto (fluoro)alkyl scaffolds with broad functional group tolerance and generality, making this a practical method for late-stage diversification.