ChemInform Abstract: Dimethyl Carbonate as a Methylating Agent. The Selective Mono-C-methylation of Alkyl Aryl Sulfones

At 180–210 °C, α-methylene sulfones (both benzyl aryl and alkyl aryl sulfones, RCH 2 SO 2 AR: R = Ph, p-ClC 6 H 4 , Ar = Ph, p-ClC 6 H 4 , p-MeC 6 H 4 , and R = Me, Ar = Ph, p-ClC 6 H 4 , p-MeC 6 H 4 ) react with dimethyl carbonate to yield the corresponding mono-C-methyl derivatives [RCH(CH 3 )SO 2 Ar] in a selectivity >99%, at conversions of 76–99% (isolated yields: 97–92%).