Development of methodology for the preparation of vinyl sulfones is of significant interest to organic chemists. Recently, numerous useful methods have been developed, mainly including direct sulfonylation of olefins and alkynes, decarboxylative sulfonylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids and decomposition of tosylhydrazones. This review will focus on recent achievements in vinyl sulfones synthesis and the mechanisms of the reactions are also discussed.

A convenient copper-catalyzed decarboxylative and oxidative decarbonylative cross-coupling of cinnamic acids with aliphatic aldehydes was achieved, which provides a useful strategy of C(sp3)–C(sp2) bonds construction for the synthesis of alkyl-substituted E-alkenes.

A simple and efficient Cu(i)-catalyzed strategy for synthesis of mutisubstituted furans has been developed and this ligand- and additive-free annulation method is well suitable for both nonactivated arylmethyl ketones 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.