A mild, efficient method for the synthesis of aromatic and aliphatic sulfonamides

A two-step method was developed for the synthesis of aromatic and aliphatic sulfonamides from the corresponding sulfinates using bis(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)azodicarboxylate as the electrophilic nitrogen source. The intermediate sulfonylhydrazides were obtained in very good yields and were cleaved under reductive conditions to deliver the desired sulfonamides. A variety of substituents in the aromatic ring are well tolerated as well as heterocycles.