Allyl methanesulphonate gives the corresponding alcohol on alkaline hydrolysis, whereas the 1, 4-dimethane-sulphonates of cis-and trans-but-2-ene give high yields of but-2-enal which is probably formed by a 1, 4-elimination followed by alkaline hydrolysis at sulphur. The diesters give the substituted products only on reaction with the sodium salts of p- nitrophenol and thiophenol. The mode of activation of sulphonate esters by vinylic and ...