I2-Catalyzed benzylation of NH-sulfoximines with diarylmethanes and alkylarenes

Abstract

A practical transition metal-free approach for the selective benzylation of NH-sulfoximines has been disclosed by using simple elemental iodine as the catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the terminal oxidant. Comparing with known methods for the construction of N-benzylated sulfoximines, our protocol shows broad substrate scope with respect to both diarylmethanes and alkylarenes, and can be conducted in air with good functional group tolerance.