NaDMSO condenses with esters (1) to form β-ketosulfoxides (2), which can be useful intermediates. Reduction of β-ketosulfoxides with aluminium amalgam gives methyl ketones (3). Reaction with alkyl halides followed by elimination gives α,β-unsaturated ketones (4). β-ketosulfoxides can also be used in the Pummerer rearrangement to introduce nucleophiles alpha to a carbonyl (5).