Ligand-free copper-catalyzed C(sp3)–H imidation of aromatic and aliphatic methyl sulfides with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide

A novel and efficient process has been developed for copper-catalyzed C(sp3)–H direct imidation of methyl sulfides with N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide(NFSI). Without using any ligands, various methyl sulfides including aromatic and aliphatic methyl sulfides, can be transformed to the corresponding N-((phenylthio)methyl)-benzenesulfonamide derivatives in good to excellent yields.