An easily accessible, anion-functionalized ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium (S)-2-amino-3-methylbutyric acid salt, [emim][Val], has been demonstrated to be an efficient additive for the CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of sulfinic acid salts with aryl iodides, aryl bromides and vinyl bromides, leading to the formation of sulfones in good yields.
ionic liquids - homogeneous catalysis - cross-coupling - copper - sulfones