Diarylamine Synthesis via Desulfinylative Smiles Rearrangement.

Diarylamines are obtained directly from sulfinamides through a novel rearrangement sequence. The transformation is transition metal-free and proceeds under mild conditions, providing facile access to highly sterically hindered diarylamines that are otherwise inaccessible by traditional S N Ar chemistry. The reaction highlights the distinct reactivity of the sulfinamide group in Smiles rearrangements versus that of the more common sulfonamides.