Benzenesulfinates

Benzenesulfinates are organosulfur compounds with the general formula C6H5SO2M, where M is a metal cation. They are the salts of benzenesulfinic acid (C6H5SO2H). These compounds are typically crystalline solids and are often soluble in polar solvents. Benzenesulfinates can be prepared by the oxidation of benzenesulfenyl chloride or by the reduction of benzenesulfonyl chloride. Another common synthetic route involves the reaction of benzene with sulfur dioxide in the presence of a base. These salts are important intermediates in organic synthesis. For example, they can be used to introduce the benzenesulfinyl group into other organic molecules. They are also employed in the preparation of sulfones and other sulfur-containing compounds. The reactivity of benzenesulfinates is largely attributed to the nucleophilic character of the sulfinate anion. In some reactions, they can act as reducing agents. The structure of the benzenesulfinate anion features a sulfur atom bonded to two oxygen atoms and a phenyl group, with the negative charge delocalized between the sulfur and oxygen atoms.