Unprecedented observation of sulfonamides in the transesterification of N-unsubstituted carbamates with sulfonyl chlorides

Sulfonamides have been identified as by-products in the base-mediated transesterification of N-unsubstituted carbamates with sulfonyl chlorides to give the corresponding sulfonates. A proposed mechanism and the synthesis of hindered 2,6-disubstituted arylsulfonates via this method are also reported.