Synthesis, Enantiomeric Conformations, and Stereodynamics of Aromatic <i>o</i><i>rtho</i>-Substituted Disulfones

Aromatic ortho-disulfone derivatives are readily accessible from diiodide precursors by Cu(I)-mediated reactions with sodium sulfinate salts. The sulfone substituents adopt C2-symmetric enantiomeric conformations (λ and δ) as evidenced by X-ray structural analysis and 1H and 31P NMR on chiral bis(sulfonyl)veratrol derivatives and hexacoordinated tris(benzenediolato)phosphate anions. Slow dynamic conformational isomerism (ΔG‡ ≥ 19.8 kcal mol-1) was detected in solution.