Sulfonylative alkoxyhydroxylation of 2-arylpropenes.

One-pot three-step sulfonylative alkoxyhydroxylation of 2-arylpropenes 1 affords oxygenated sulfonylcumenes 4 in moderate yields via a sequential route: (i) NBS-mediated allylic bromination of 2-arylpropenes 1 in CH 2 Cl 2 , (ii) sodium sulfinates 2 -promoted nucleophilic substitution of the resulting styryl bromides in a co-solvent of alcohol and water, and (iii) V 2 O 5 /H 2 O 2 mediated alkoxyhydroxylation of corresponding styryl sulfones 3 in alcohol. The synthetic route provides a highly effective protocol for the 1,2,3-tricarbofunctionalization of 2-arylpropenes 1 via two carbon-oxygen and one carbon-sulfur bond formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]