The Doyle-Kirmse reaction, namely the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfonium ylides generated from α-diazo carbonyl compounds and sulfides has been for the first time catalyzed by [RuCl₂- (p-cymene)]₂. The reaction with allyl sulfides afforded the corresponding [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement products in moderate to good yields. The reaction with propargyl sulfide gave a mixture of allenic sulfide and furan. The former is the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement product, while the latter is derived from the further rearrangement of the allene product under Ru(II) catalysis.

Key words: ruthenium(II) catalyst, α-diazo carbonyl compound, [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of sulfonium ylide