One-pot synthesis of disulfide-linked N-sulfonylazetidin-2-imines via a copper-catalyzed multicomponent cascade reaction

A copper-catalyzed, three-component reaction between a sulfonyl azide, an alkyne, and a 2-aminothiophenol derived Schiff base is reported. This novel one-pot procedure involves a click reaction, a formal [2+2] cycloaddition, and S–S coupling, therefore, providing a unique method for the synthesis of novel disulfide-linked N-sulfonylazetidin-2-imines under mild conditions.