Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Benzylic Amidation with Anhydrous Chloramine-T

Abstract

Benzylic hydrocarbons are selectively converted to the corresponding sulfonamides by the [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6)-catalyzed reaction with anhydrous TolSO(2)NNaCl (chloramine-T). Under the same conditions, representative ethers are also alpha-amidated; olefins produce allyl sulfonamides, aziridines, and/or beta-chloro sulfonamides.