The synthesis of sulfonylisoureas from thiocarbamates and sulfonyl azides via a new
variant of the sulfo-click reaction is reported. Water was found to be the environmentally
benign solvent of choice over various other solvents tested, and the use of any additives
was not required to obtain complete conversion. The experimentally simple reaction
tolerates a broad range of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents
attached on both the thiocarbamate and the sulfonyl azide, as shown with the synthesis
of 27 sulfonylisoureas that were prepared in yields ranging from 34% to 78%.
Key words
sulfonylisoureas - sulfonyl azides - click reactions - cycloadditions - water