Method for preparing sulfones.

摘要

A method for preparing sulfones represented by the following general formula: <CHEM> (wherein R' represents a lower alkyl group, an aryl group or an aryl group whose nucleus has substituents; and R'' may be identical to or different from R' and represents a lower alkyl group, an aryl group or an aryl group whose nucleus has substituents) comprises the step of condensing 4-hydroxybiphenyl or sulfonic acid esters of 4-hydroxybiphenyl represented by the following general formula: <CHEM> (wherein R is the same as R' or R'' defined above) with sulfonyl chlorides represented by the following general formula: R'SO2Cl (wherein R' is the same as that defined above) in the presence of a Lewis acid or a superstrong acid; and a method for preparing sulfones represented by the following general formula: <CHEM> (wherein R' is the same as that defined above) or alkali salts thereof comprises the step of saponifying the foregoing sulfones in the presence of an acid or alkali. These methods permits the production of sulfones or salts thereof in high yield and high quality through relatively simple operations. Thus, useful sulfones having biphenyl structures can be supplied at a low cost and in an industrial scale.