A novel formal cross-coupling of aryl methyl sulfones and alcohols affording alkyl aryl ethers via an S RN 1 pathway is developed. Two marketed antitubercular drugs were efficiently prepared employing this approach as the key step. A dimsyl-anion initiated radical chain process was revealed as the major pathway. DFT calculations indicate that the formation of a radical anion via nucleophilic addition of alkoxide to the aryl radical is the key step in determining the observed chemoselectivity.