Mild Reductive Functionalization of Amides into N-Sulfonylformamidines.

The development of a protocol for the reductive functionalization of amides into N-sulfonylformamidines is reported. The one-pot procedure is based on a mild catalytic reduction of tertiary amides into the corresponding enamines by the use of Mo(CO)6 (molybdenum hexacarbonyl) and TMDS (1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane). The formed enamines were allowed to react with sulfonyl azides to give the target compounds in moderate to good yields.