Practical preparation of N-(1-alkynyl)sulfonamides and their synthetic utility in titanium alkoxide-mediated coupling reactions

Aliphatic and aromatic sulfonamides were alkynylated with 1-bromo-1-alkynes in the catalytic presence of CuI to give N-(1-alkynyl)sulfonamides in good to excellent yields. Racemization of optically active sulfonamides was not observed during this alkynylation. The acetylene-titanium complexes generated from the resultant N-(1-alkynyl)sulfonamides and Ti(O-i-Pr)₄/2 i-PrMgCl underwent regio-, olefinic stereo-, and diastereoselective addition to aldehydes to give virtually single allyl alcohols. Alternatively, inter- or intramolecular coupling reaction between N-(1-alkynyl)sulfonamides and another acetylene or olefin with the above titanium alkoxide reagent generated the corresponding titanacycles, hydrolysis of which furnished stereo-defined (sulfonylamino)dienes or cyclic compounds.