Abstract: The thermal racemization of optically active allyl sulfoxides has been shown on the basis of kinetic evidence and labeling experiments to proceed by way of a facile, reversible, and wholly concerted rearrangement to optically inactive allyl sulfenates. The reaction involves an intramolecular cyclic a, y shift of the allyl group between the sulfoxide oxygen and sulfur termini. Rearrangement of (S)-a-methylallyl p-toluenesulfenate to (S)-trans- ...