A General Method for the Preparation of N-Sulfonyl Aldimines and Ketimines

A simple procedure to obtain N-sulfonyl imines involving the condensation of carbonyl compounds with p-tolyl or tert-butyl sulfinamides followed by oxidation with m-CPBA of the resulting N-sulfinylimines is reported. The method is applicable to aldehydes (aliphatics and aromatics) and ketones (diaryl, dialkyl, and aryl alkyl), even those containing enolizable protons. It also does not affect CN or CC double bonds and does not epimerize α-stereogenic centers.