Table 1. Optimization of the Arylalkynyl Sulfone Synthesis.

entrya	equiv of 4a	solvent	t	yield (%)d
1	1.2	DMFb	2 h	16
2	1.2	DMFb	14 h	0
3	1.2	DMF/H2Ob,c	2 h	15
4	1.2	DMF/H2Ob,c	14 h	0
5	1.2	DMF	2 h	65
6	1.2	DMSO	2 h	0
7	1.5	DMF	2 h	50
8	1.5	DMF	1 h	50
9	1.5	DMF	30 min	75
10	1.5	DMF	5 min	78
11	1.2	DMF	5 min	80
12	1.1	DMF	5 min	75

^a0.06 mmol p-tolylmagnesium bromide (5a) was used in 0.2 mL of THF. 0.2 mL of solvent was added for the second step (final concentration: 0.13 M).

^bTHF was removed before adding 0.2 mL of solvent (final concentration: 0.3 M).

^cRatio (v/v) = 5/1.

^dThe yield was obtained based on ¹H NMR analysis using 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene as internal reference.