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

Abstract

Just as a change in physical surroundings can prompt a chameleon to alter its color, a change in reaction conditions can cause a sulfonyl group to alter its chemical reactivity. This remarkable flexibility makes molecules bearing multiple sulfones incredibly versatile building blocks. In this Minireview by B. M. Trost et al. on page 11193 ff., 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, is highlighted.