Oxazoline-Promoted Rh-Catalyzed C–H Amidation of Benzene Derivatives with Sulfonamides and Trifluoroacetamide. A Comparative Study

A Rh-catalyzed ortho-amidation of 2-aryloxazolines
offers an efficient and direct route to a range of sulfonamides. The
scope of the reaction is very broad with respect to sulfonamide substrate,
but the position and electronic nature of the substituents on the
aryl moiety of the oxazoline lead to a surprising modulation of reactivity.
The reactivity of sulfonamides in comparison to trifluoroacetamide
is compared, the latter undergoing Rh-catalyzed amidation more rapidly.