Silver-mediated Room Temperature Reactions for the Synthesis of N-α-Ketoacyl Sulfoximines and N-α,β-Unsaturated Acyl Sulfoximines

[Image: see text] Here, we report a silver-mediated coupling of acetylenes with sulfoximines to synthesize N-α-ketoacyl sulfoximines and N-α,β-unsaturated acyl sulfoximines. The reactions are performed under an open atmosphere using the oxidant K(2)S(2)O(8) and the ligand 2,2-bipyridyl. However, the fate of the product formation is controlled by the type of substrate used. The coupling between aryl acetylenes and sulfoximines afforded the N-α-ketoacylsulfoximines, while the alkyl acetylenes provided the N-α,β-unsaturated acyl sulfoximines. Controlled experiments reveal the differential reactivity patterns of substrates. The labeling (18)O experiments showed that water is the source of the incoming oxygen atom for the keto group of N-α-ketoacyl sulfoximines and N-α,β-unsaturated acyl sulfoximines.