Efficient copper-catalyzed benzylic amidation with anhydrous chloramine-T

Benzylic hydrocarbons are selectively converted to the corresponding sulfonamides by the [Cu(CH3CN)(4)]PF6-catalyzed reaction with anhydrous TolSO(2)NNaCl (chloramine-T). Under the same conditions, representative ethers are also alpha-amidated; olefins produce allyl sulfonamides, aziridines, and/or,beta-chloro sulfonamides.