Effective Recognition of Different Types of Amino Groups: From Amino­benzene­sulfonamides to Amino‑(N‑alkyl)­benzene­sulfonamides via Iridium-Catalyzed N‑Alkylation with Alcohols

A simple, highly efficient, and general strategy for the direct synthesis of amino-(N-alkyl)­benzene­sulfonamides has been accomplished via direct N-alkylation of amino­benzene­sulfonamides bearing both different types of amino groups with alcohols as alkylating agents. Notably, this research exhibited the potential for the recognition of different types of amino groups in the N-alkylation of complex molecules with alcohols, facilitating the progress of the transition-metal-catalyzed “hydrogen autotransfer (or hydrogen-borrowing) process.”