Sulfonate - Sulfonate Salts

Sulfonate Salts

Anions with the general formula RSO₂O− are called sulfonates. They are the conjugate bases of sulfonic acids with formula RSO₂OH. As sulfonic acids tend to be strong acids, the corresponding sulfonates are weak bases. Due to the stability of sulfonate anions, the cations of sulfonate salts such as scandium triflate have application as Lewis acids.

A classic organic reaction for the preparation of sulfonates is that of alkyl halides with sulfites such as sodium sulfite, first described by Adolph Strecker in 1868 (Strecker sulfite alkylation). The general reaction is:

RX + M₂SO₃ → RSO₃M + MX

Iodide is used as a catalyst.