It was found that dichloromethanesulfinate (I) reacts with alkali solutions under formation of salts of chloromethanesulfonic acid (II) in high yields. The course of this reaction, involving a selective splitting off of the chlorine atom under simultaneous oxidation o (the sulfinic group to a sulfonic one, is rationalized as a nucleophilic attack of a water molecule, or a hydroxyl, on the highly reactive chlorosulfene intermediate. If the alkaline decomposition of I is ...
