Iron-catalysed synthesis of sulfonamides and sulfonic esters: Greener sulfonation of amines and alcohols under mechanical grinding conditions

Abstract

Iron-catalysed synthesis of sulfonamides and sulfonic esters has been reported under simple grinding and neat conditions at ambient temperature. The ferric chloride -catalysed sulfonation of amines and alcohols is mild, efficient, and notably avoids base and quashed impurities. Also, this methodology with iron catalyst showed high functional group tolerance, which accommodates diverse sulfonyl chlorides, amines, and aliphatic alcohols and yields a spectrum of sulfonamides and sulfonic esters with good to excellent yields. The present methodology could open the doors for synthesising sulfonamides and sulfonic esters; on the other hand, it could utilise a mild and simple protection strategy for amines and alcohols.