Base-Promoted S-Trideuteromethylation of Sulfenamides to Access Trideuteromethyl Sulfilimines

Recently, both sulfilimines and deuterated organic molecules have garnered considerable attention in organic synthesis, drug discovery, and agrochemicals. Herein, we present a base-mediated efficient synthetic route for synthesizing trideuteromethyl sulfilimines from sulfenamides utilizing cost-effective and readily accessible CD₃OTs as an electrophilic trideuteromethyl source. A wide array of both aryl and alkyl trideuteromethyl sulfilimines were prepared in high yields with excellent deuterium incorporation. The present approach is scalable, and the consequent products can be diversified into various trideuteromethyl sulfur derivatives.