Cross-dehydrogenative alkynylation of sulfonamides and amides with terminal alkynes via Ir(III) catalysis

Primary sulfonamides are widely used structural skeletons in bioactive molecules, however their direct modification via C-H functionalization remains to be developed. Herein, direct cross-dehydrogenative C-H alkynylations of amides and primary sulfonamides with terminal alkynes is reported. This general process features predictable regioselectivity towards multiple functionalized arenes and the stereoselective generation of tetrasubstituted olefins, which might provide insight into the expedient delivery of related bioactive and material molecules.