The rate of the CS bond fissio1). in sulfones I increases with the increasing number of alkyl groups on the CH2 group of the benzyl moiety; thus, eg, the order of the relative rates in base-catalysed elimination of the phenylsulfonyl group from sulfones Ij, Ik, and II corresponds to the ratio 1: 35: 6000. On the other hand, dependence of the addition rate of the hydride ion to the quinone methides IIj, Ilk. and III is quite opposite. The difference in ...