Three-Component Reaction of Propargyl Amines, Sulfonyl Azides, and Alkynes: One-Pot Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles

An efficient and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles from propargyl amines, sulfonyl azides, and terminal alkynes is described. N-Sulfonyl ketenimine and aminoallene are believed to be the key intermediates for this two-step one-pot transformation.