Single-atom-nickel photocatalytic site-selective sulfonation of enamides to access amidosulfones†

Single-atom photocatalysis as an important organic transformation strategy has received increasing attention, with the performances largely depending on the design of catalysts. This protocol involves initially the fabrication of a single-atom photocatalyst Ni/TiO2 for the visible-light-induced site-selective sulfonation of enamides to give amidosulfones with 36 examples up to 99% yield. The experimental results show that this single-atom photocatalyst Ni/TiO2 can achieve site-selective sulfonation of enamide to construct alpha-amidosulfones and beta-propionamidosulfones under visible light. Importantly, such a single-atom photocatalysis-based synthesis system exhibits favorable recyclability, high turnover number (up to 18 963), excellent tolerance of functional groups, and can be easily scaled up with good efficiency.

Automated summary

The protocol involves the fabrication of single-atom photocatalyst Ni/TiO2 for visible-light-induced site-selective sulfonation of enamides, resulting in high yields of alpha-amidosulfones and beta-propionamidosulfones. The single-atom photocatalysis system exhibits favorable recyclability, high turnover number, excellent tolerance of functional groups, and can be easily scaled up with good efficiency.