Iron-Catalyzed Acylative Dealkylation of N-Alkylsulfoximines

As a result of our recent investigations into the N-functionalization of sulfoximines, an iron-catalyzed dealkylative acylation of N-alkylsulfoximines has been developed. This process involves a Polonovski-type dealkylation of an N-alkylated sulfoximine to afford a reactive intermediate that is trapped in the presence of a suitable aldehyde or anhydride to afford N-acyl- and N-aroylsulfoximine derivatives in one pot. Subsequent cleavage of the acyl or aroyl group under acidic conditions generates a synthetically valuable NH-sulfoximine.