Nickel-catalyzed α-benzylation of sulfones with esters via C–O activation

The nickel-catalyzed α-benzylation of sulfones with readily available benzylic alcohol derivatives was achieved via C–O activation. The transformation was complete in 30 minutes using a simple Ni(COD)2 as a catalyst without any additional ligands. A variety of substituted sulfones including the building block for bioactive compound eletriptan were synthesized by using the strategy.