Rapid and scalable halosulfonylation of strain-release reagents

Sulfonylated aromatics are commonplace motifs in drugs and agrochemicals. However, methods for the direct synthesis of sulfonylated non-classical arene bioisosteres, which could improve the physico-chemical properties of drug and agrochemical can-didates, are limited. Here we report a solution to this challenge: a one-pot halosulfonylation of [1.1.1]propellane, [3.1.1]propellane and bicy-clo[1.1.0]butanes that proceeds under practical, scalable and mild conditions. The sulfonyl halides used in this chemistry feature aryl, heteroaryl and alkyl substituents, and are conveniently generated in situ from readily available sulfinate salts and halogen atom sources. This methodology enables the syn-thesis of an array of pharmaceutically and agro-chemically relevant sulfonyl BCP, BCHep and cyclo-butyl halides, on milligram to decagram scales.