Insights into sulfinate formation from tosyl hydrazides

Benzylation of 1,2-ditosylhydrazine in DMF under various basic conditions results in a benzyl sulfone via intermediary sulfinate formation, providing new insights and allowing practical conclusions to be drawn. The half-lives of 1,2-ditosylhydrazine and several monotosylated hydrazides with 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine in DMSO have been determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and are found to vary from a few minutes to several months. In the course of this work a benzylated, partly detosylated compound has been identified and a 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl guanidine-containing side-product characterized. A contradictory report is also commented on.