A New Entry of Copper-Catalyzed Four-Component Reaction: Facile Access to α-Aryl β-Hydroxy Imidates

alpha-Aryl beta-hydroxy imidates are efficiently obtained by the four-component reaction of ethyl glyoxylates, aryl acetylenes, sulfonyl azides, and alcohols using a copper catalyst. The developed procedure Is characterized by high selectivity, mild reaction conditions, a wide substrate scope, and an excellent functional group tolerance. Facile transformations of the obtained sulfonylimidate moiety to other carbonyl groups such as sulfonamides or esters were also demonstrated.