Alkylation of Aryl N‐(2‐Pyridylsulfonyl)aldimines with Organozinc Halides: Conciliation of Reactivity and Chemoselectivity

The best of both worlds: With a coordinating 2-pyridylsulfonyl group as the N-activating group, aromatic aldimines show unprecedented high reactivity towards the direct addition of alkyl zinc bromide reagents in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(OTf)2. The reaction combines high reactivity with wide functional-group compatibility to provide ready access to functionalized benzylamines and derivatives (see example). Tf=trifluoromethanesulfonyl.