Reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with excess of sulphuryl chloride in ether–hexane at 0° gives benzenesulphonyl chloride and bromide in a combined yield of at least 58%. Substituted sulphonyl halides, YC6H4· SO2X (Y= o-Me, m-Me, m-Cl, and m-CF3), are produced similarly in comparable yields. Diphenylmagnesium, diphenylcadmium, or phenyl- lithium under similar conditions give somewhat smaller yields of benzenesulphonyl ...