The present status of sulphenes (R'R'C: SO2) as stable entities or chemical intermediates is discussed. The early report by Locher and Fierz (Helv. Chim. Acta, 10, 642 (1927)) of the preparation of a stable crystalline sulphene has been investigated; it is concluded that their claim is unfounded. The irradiation of unsaturated sultones in the presence of methanol is shown to give sulphonic esters: the corresponding thermal reaction of sultones is known ...
