Alkylation of disulfonylmethane affords a-alkyl disulfonylmethanes, which are reduced, followed by hydrolysis to provide a new convenient synthetic method of aldehydes. The anion of disulfonyl methane is used as a masked "acyl anion" in this method. E.g., allylation of (PhSO2)2CH2 with PhCH2Br gave 79% (PhSO2)2CHCH2Ph, reduction of which with CiAlHy followed by hydrolysis gave 79% PhCH2CHO.

Key words: HYDROLYSIS, ALDEHYDES, BUTYRIC ALDEHYDE, BROMOHYDROCARBON, REDUCTION, SULFONE, BUTENAL, POTASSIUM CARBONATE, PHASE TRANSFER CATALYST, ALKYLATION