Catalysis

Reactivity (psychology)

Small molecule

Electrophile

Alkyl

Biochemistry

Molecule

Synthon

Alternative medicine

Combinatorial chemistry

Physics

Organic chemistry

Astronomy

Nucleophile

Sulfonyl

Primary (astronomy)

Radical

Medicine

Chemistry

Sulfone

Pathology

Chemistry - A European Journal

Sulfones are flexible functional groups that can act as nucleophiles, electrophiles, or even radicals. Changing the reaction conditions can completely alter the reactivity of a sulfonyl group, and as a result, molecules bearing multiple sulfones are versatile building blocks. This Review highlights the unique ability of 1,1‐ and 1,2‐bis(sulfones) to masquerade as a vast array of reactive synthons including methane polyanions, vinyl cations, and all‐carbon dipoles that would be difficult or impossible to access directly.

Sulfones as Chemical Chameleons: Versatile Synthetic Equivalents of Small‐Molecule Synthons