α-Arylation of alkylamines with sulfonylarenes through a radical chain mechanism

In the presence of a substoichiometric amount of a tert -butoxy radical precursor, the reaction of alkylamines with sulfonylarenes was found to give α-arylated alkylamines through homolytic aromatic substitution, where a radical chain is operative. A radical chain, conducted by a sulfonyl radical in a homolytic aromatic substitution mechanism, makes it possible to promote α-arylation of alkylamines with sulfonylarenes just by using a substoichiometric amount of a tert -butoxy radical precursor.