Abinitio molecular orbital calculations are reported for several cyclic and acyclic sulfones. The geometries of XSO2Y, where X, Y = H, F, or CH3 are optimized at the STO-3G* level. Similar calculations are reported for the smallest cyclic sulfone, thiirane-1,1 -dioxide, as well as the corresponding sulfoxide, thiirane-1-oxide, and the parent sulfide, thiirane. Where comparison with experiment is possible, the agreement is satisfactory. In order to consider the possibility of substantial differences between axial and equatorial S—O bonds in the gas phase, as observed in the crystal structure of 5H,8H-dibenzo[d,f][1,2]-dithiocin-1,1-dioxide, STO-3G* calculations are reported for a six-membered ring, thiane-1,1-dioxide, and a model eight-membered ring. Limited geometry optimization of the axial and equatorial S—O bonds in the chair conformations of the six- and eight-membered rings leads to bond lengths of 1.46 Å with the difference being less than 0.01 Å.
