β-Sulfinyl acrylate esters as a convenient source of alkane- and arenesulfenate anions

Methyl acrylate esters bearing alkane- and arenesulfinyl units on the 2-carbon liberate sulfenate anions upon nucleophilic attack. The sulfenates are readily captured through sulfur alkylation. When a sulfenate derived from R-cysteine is generated, diastereoselective benzylation is observed.