Circumventing Mukaiyama oxidation: selective S–O bond formation via sulfenamide–alcohol coupling

A selective and efficient method for the synthesis of sulfinimidate esters via an NBS-promoted oxidative coupling of sulfenamides with alcohols has been developed. This operationally simple, metal-free protocol uses inexpensive and readily available reagents, operates under mild conditions, exhibits a broad substrate scope and high chemoselectivity, and clearly distinguishes itself from classical Mukaiyama-type oxidations. The reaction is readily scalable to gram quantities and is applicable to late-stage functionalization of complex alcohols, including bioactive molecules such as RU58841. Moreover, chiral alcohols such as ʟ-menthol are well tolerated, affording diastereomeric sulfinimidate esters that can undergo stereospecific Grignard substitutions to furnish enantioenriched sulfilimines with up to 93% ee. These results demonstrate the potential of sulfinimidate esters as versatile intermediates for enantioselective S–C bond formation under mild and metal-free conditions.