Copper(i)-catalyzed radical decarboxylative imidation of carboxylic acids with N-fluoroarylsulfonimides

Abstract

An efficient copper-catalyzed radical decarboxylative imidation reaction is presented. This strategy is carried out through the copper(I)-catalyzed decarboxylative C(sp³)–N and C(sp²)–N coupling of carboxylic acids with N-fluoroarylsulfonimides. The reaction shows good functional group tolerance and it provides a new approach for decarboxylative imidation. Preliminary mechanistic studies of this transformation suggest an involvement of N-centered radical species.