Nickel- or Iron-Catalyzed Coupling of Lithiated Methylthiomethyl p-Tolyl Sulfone with Lithiated Alkyl Sulfones to Give Methylthioalkenes

The reaction of methylthiomethyl p-tolyl sulfone with alkyl sulfones when lithiated gives regioselectively vinyl sulfides in high yields in the presence of Ni(acac)2 or Fe(acac)3.