Visible-light-promoted sulfonimidation of alkenes and alkynes

Abstract

Vinyl sulfoximines are privileged sulfur-containing scaffolds, valued for their unique reactivity and biological relevance in medicinal and materials chemistry. We report a visible-light-promoted sulfonimidation method for efficient synthesis of vinyl sulfoximines. In this synthesis, sulfonimidoyl chlorides form an electron donor–acceptor complex with iodine, which facilitates sulfoximinyl radical generation under blue LED irradiation. These radicals react with alkenes or alkynes to create the vinyl sulfoximine frameworks. This transition-metal-free method exhibits excellent regio- and stereoselectivity and broad substrate compatibility, including electron-deficient, aromatic, and aliphatic precursors. By overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, particularly sulfonimidating electron-deficient alkenes and alkynes, this method provides a practical, efficient route to vinyl sulfoximines. This work expands the scope of sulfoximinyl radical chemistry and provides a robust tool for applications in drug discovery and molecular design.