Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Amidation and Alkenylation of Cyclic N-Sulfonyl Ketimines

A highly regioselective ruthenium-catalyzed C-H amidation of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines with organic sulfonyl azides is described. An alkenylation at the C-H bond of cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines with various alkenes was also carried out. Only a catalytic amount of the oxidant Cu(OAc)(2) was used in the reaction; the remainder of the required amount of oxidant was formed by regeneration of Cu(OAc)(2) under an air atmosphere.