p-Toluenesulfonamide, which is known to form phosphine imides under Mitsunobu conditions, was shown to be alkylated in the presence of cyanomethylenetributylphsphorane to give N-substituted sulfonamides in excellent yields. The reaction can be applied to the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical N, N-disubstituted amides. When coupled with the desulfurization reactions, the reaction provides a new versatile synthetic route to ...
