Thermal and photochemical reactions of allylcobaloximes with para-substituted benzenesulphonyl chloride under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

The compounds p-XC₆H₄SO₂Cl (X = Cl, Br, I, OMe) react regiospecifically with allyl-, 2-methylallyl-, 3-methylallyl- and 3,3-dimethylallyl-cobaloximes under thermal and photochernical conditions. A rearranged organic product is obtained in each case. The yields are much better in photochemical reactions. A chain mechanism is involved in which the organosulphonyl radical and cobaloxime(II) are the chain propagating species. Yields of the sulphones are drastically reduced when the reactions are carried out in the presence of oxygen.