Three-component one-pot synthesis of N-arylsulfonyl-2-iminocoumarins

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Formal [4 + 2] Cyclocondensation of ortho-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol, Aromatic Terminal Alkynes, and Sulfonyl Azides: An Alternative Approach to 2-Sulfonyliminocoumarins

In this paper, an alternative and efficient copper(I)-catalyzed synthesis of 2-sulfonyliminocoumarins is developed through a three-component reaction of ortho-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, alkynes, and p-toluenesulfonyl azide. The proposed route for access to the 2-iminocoumarin ring involves a [4 + 2] hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between ortho-quinone methide and ketenimine intermediates generated in situ.

The Copper-Catalyzed Reaction of 2-(1-Hydroxyprop-2-yn-1-yl)phenols with Sulfonyl Azides Leading to C3-Unsubstituted N-Sulfonyl-2-iminocoumarins

An operationally simple synthesis of Z-configured and C3-unsubstituted N-sulfonyl-2-iminocoumarins (e.g., 8a) that proceeds under mild conditions is achieved by reacting 2-(1-hydroxyprop-2-yn-1-yl)phenols (e.g., 6a) with sulfonyl azides (e.g., 7a). The cascade process involved likely starts with a copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. This is followed by ring-opening of the resulting metalated triazole (with accompanying loss of nitrogen), reaction of the ensuing ketenimine with the pendant phenolic hydroxyl group, and finally dehydration of the (Z)-N-(4-hydroxychroman-2-ylidene)sulfonamide so formed.