Synthesis of 3-Coumaryl Phenyl Sulfones or Sulfoxides

An unambiguous synthesis of a number of 3-coumaryl phenyl sulfones or sulfoxides have been described which were obtained by the oxidation of the corresponding sulfides with hydrogen peroxide. The sulfides were prepared by the Perkin-Oglialore reaction of o-hydroxyaldehyde with the sodium salt of different S-phenyl thioacetic acids. The sulfones did not exhibit any appreciable antitubercuious activity in the preliminary screening tests.