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.