Synlett 2005(8): 1340-1341  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865239
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Sulfur Dioxide

Freddy Fonquerne*
EPFL/ISIC/LGSA, 1015 Lausanne-Dorigny, Switzerland
e-Mail: freddy.fonquerne@epfl.ch;
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 April 2005 (online)

Introduction

Sulfur dioxide, obtained by burning sulfur in air, is a useful and suitable solvent and reagent for a large number of reactions. [1] [2] It has a broad liquid range (mp -75 °C and bp -10 °C), a comparably high solvation power for both ­ionic and covalent compounds, and low nucleophilicity. It is also a Lewis acid that is able to complex unsaturated ­organic compounds. Recently, this reagent has been used in the synthesis of long chain polyketides, [3] sulfones, ­sulfinates, sulfonamides, and methanesulfonic acid.