A domino approach (hydrolysis/dehydrohalogenation/Heck coupling) for the synthesis of styrene sulfonate salts.

A domino approach of hydrolysis/dehydrohalogenation/Heck coupling was used to synthesize styrene sulfonate salts from iodoarenes and chloroethanesulfonyl chloride in good to excellent yields. Methodology was applicable for heterocyclic as well as disubstituted iodoarenes. Some of the key features of this synthetic methodology include the use of phosphine free catalytic system, water as an environmentally friendly solvent, short reaction times, and absence of additives.