Cross coupling of 3-bromopyridine and sulfonamides (R1NHSO2R2·R1 = H, Me, alkyl; R2 = alkyl and aryl) catalyzed by CuI/1,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-dione

N-(3-Pyridinyl)-substituted secondary and tertiary sulfonamides have been synthesized in good to excellent yields by the reaction of 3-bromopyridine with primary and secondary alkyl and aryl sulfonamides (MeSO2NH2, MeSO2NHMe, TolSO2NH2, TolSO2NHMe, 1,3-propanesultam, and 1,4-butanesultam), catalyzed by CuI (20 mol %) and 1,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-dione (20 mol %) with K2CO3 (200 mol %) in DMF (0.17 M for ArBr) at 110–120 °C over 36–40 h. 2-Bromopyridine, 4-bromopyridine, and a wide variety of substituted phenyl bromides can also be successfully coupled with sulfonamides under these reaction conditions.