It is important to construct carbon-carbon double bond skeleton in the organic synthesis using Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction. On the treatment with base, the α-halo sulfone was converted into alkene. It is now understood that the reaction takes place via 1,3-elimination of halide from the sulfone α-anion, and loss of SO₂ from the resulting 1,1-dioxothiirane. Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction has good stereoselectivity to the construction of the carbon-carbon double bond. Here a brief historical review of Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction was presented along with a detail summary of its application to the synthesis of functional organic molecules, including recent developments in this area originating from the author’s laboratory.

Key words: cklund reaction, application, construction of carbon-carbon double bond, functional organic molecule, Ramberg-Bä