A general method for the preparation of N-sulfonyl aldimines and ketimines

A simple procedure to obtain N-sulfonyl imines involving the condensation of carbonyl compounds with p-tolyl or tert-butyl suffinamides followed by oxidation with m-CPBA of the resulting N-sulfinylimines is reported. The method is applicable to aldehydes; (aliphatics and aromatics) and ketones (diaryl, dialkyl, and aryl alkyl), even those containing enolizable protons. It also does not affect C=N or C=C double bonds and does not epimerize alpha-stereogenic centers.