NAD(P)+–NAD(P)H Models. 65. Photochemical Reductive Desulfonylation of β-Keto Sulfones with Hantzsch Ester

Abstract
A new procedure for the reductive desulfonylation of β-keto sulfones is described. The reaction proceeds under a photochemical conditions with the Hantzsch ester in pyridine in the presence of ruthenium(II). Various functional groups are unaffected under the reaction conditions. Application of the procedure to the syntheses of certain natural products is also described.