Iron-Catalyzed One-Pot N-Aroylation of NH-Sulfoximines with Methylarenes through Benzylic C-H Bond Oxidation

An efficient catalytic method has been developed for the synthesis of N-aroylated sulfoximines from readily available toluenes (methylarenes) as source of the aroyl coupling partner and NH-sulfoximines, employing an environmentally benign iron catalyst. This protocol involves oxidation of benzylic C-H bonds of toluenes to generate aroyl radical intermediates followed by oxidative coupling with NH-sulfoximines to form N-aroylated sulfoximines in good to excellent yields. The intermediate aroyl radical is successfully trapped with TEMPO to prove the radical pathway of the reaction.