Pd-Catalyzed desulfitative arylation of olefins by N -methoxysulfonamide.

A novel Pd-catalyzed protocol for the desulfitative Heck-type reaction of N -methoxy aryl sulfonamides with alkenes was reported. The cross-coupling reaction was performed successfully with a variety of olefins to obtain aryl alkenes. Different substituents on the aromatic ring of N -methoxysulfonamides were also found to be compatible with the reaction conditions. Expectedly, the reaction proceeds through CuCl 2 -promoted generation of the nitrogen radical and subsequent desulfonylation under thermal conditions to afford the aryl radical for the Pd-catalyzed coupling reaction. N -Methoxysulfonamide was further exploited for the synthesis of symmetrical biaryls in the presence of CuCl 2 .