Copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids and sulfoximines

Abstract

A copper-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative coupling of α-keto acids with NH-sulfoximines has been developed. With CuBr as the catalyst and K₂S₂O₈ as the oxidant, this reaction enables the formation of a C–N bond and gives N-aroylsulfoximine products in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction mechanism is likely to involve the generation of a reactive aroyl radical intermediate.