Method for preparing arylvinylsulphones

A method for preparing a compound of formula (I)

• where
• R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom;
• a halogen atom;
• a hydroxy group, an alkyl group;
• a hydroxy alkyl group;
• a haloalkyl group;
• an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• an amino group;
• an alkylamino group or an acylamido group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• A is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom;
• a C1-C5 alkyl group;
• or an alkoxycarbonyl group;
• B is selected from the group consisting of a nitrile group;
• a carboxylic acid group, a carboxylic acid ester group or a carboxylic acid amide group;
• the method comprising steps of
• (a) forming a first reaction mixture comprising
• a catalyst complex comprising Cu(I) and a ligand, wherein the ligand is selected from the group consisting of mono-, bi- or polydentate amine ligands;
• an organic sulphonate counterion;
• a reactive solvent selected from (meth)acrylonitrile or alkyl (meth)acrylate;
• and
• an aryl sulfonyl halide reactant;
• (b) allowing a first reaction to proceed in the first reaction mixture at an elevated temperature, whereby an intermediate product is obtained;
• (c) separating the unreacted reactive solvent from the first reaction mixture, and dissolving the intermediate product to a low polarity solvent to form a second reaction mixture;
• (d) adding a base to the second reaction mixture, and allowing a second reaction to occur wherein the intermediate product undergoes a base-catalyzed elimination of the halogen atom from the intermediate product to form the compound according to Formula (I);
• and
• (e) separating the compound according to Formula (I) from the second reaction mixture.