a-Arylsulfonylacetates were treated with potassium carbonate under solid-liq. phase transfer conditions to generate the corresponding carbanions and then allowed to react in situ with alkyl, allylic, and benzylic halides to give the dialkylated products in good yields. E.g., arylsulfonylacetate I (R = 4-ClC6H4CH2) was prepared in 85% yields from I (R = H) and 4-ClC6H4CH2Cl.

Key words: INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, ACETIC ACID ESTER, ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS, PHASE TRANSFER CATALYSIS, SULFONYL GROUP, ALKYLATION, MASS SPECTROGRAPHY, BENZENESULFONIC ACID P, PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROMETRY, AROMATIC COMPOUNDS