Diverse Reactions of Sulfonyl Chlorides and Cyclic Imines

Although alkanesulfonyl chlorides react with linear imines to give rise to β-sultam derivatives, in this study, they were reacted with various cyclic imines, including 1-pyrroline, oxazoline, 5,6-dihydro-4H-oxazines and thiazines, 4,5-dihydro-3H-benzo[c]azepine, and 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline, to produce diverse products instead of β-sultam derivatives. The results indicate that alkanesulfonyl chlorides react with cyclic imines to generate N-alkanesulfonyl cyclic iminium ions, which are attacked by nucleophiles, such as water and chloride anion, in the reaction systems, affording addition products. The iminium intermediates cannot undergo a ring closure to form β-sultam derivatives. Arenesulfonyl chlorides showed similar behavior when they reacted with cyclic imines. The scope and limitation of the reaction between sulfonyl chlorides and imines were investigated. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT