D-Glucosamine as a green ligand for copper catalyzed synthesis of aryl sulfones from aryl halides and sodium sulfinates

D-Glucosamine is reported for the first time as a green ligand for copper catalyzed coupling of aryl halides and sodium sulfinates, which provides a simple and extremely efficient new route to unsymmetrical diaryl sulfones. The catalytic reaction proceeded in DMSO-H2O at 100 degrees C and gave a variety of aryl sulfones in high yields. The high water solubility of the ligand enables easy catalyst removal. The scope of the method was validated by a single step synthesis of marketed drug zolimidine, a drug used for peptic ulcers, in 65% yield.