Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative N–S Bond Formation for the Synthesis of N-Sulfenylimines

Despite the remarkable success of the copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling reaction, direct cross-coupling of amines and thiols for the synthesis of N-sulfenylimines has not been previously reported. Using commercially available copper catalysts (CuI) and oxygen as an environmentally benign oxidant, synthetically useful N-sulfenylimines were prepared from amines and thiols in good yields without overoxidation of sulfur atoms.