Photo-Fries rearrangement of N-arylsulfonamides to aminoaryl sulfone derivatives

Photochemical reaction of variously substituted p-toluenesulfonanilides was studied. The reaction gives rearranged products, o- and p-amino-substituted diaryl sulfones with the combined yields of 38-72%: the p-isomer is more favored over the o-isomer with the selectivity ratio of 1.1-4.3 depending on the substituents. N-Alkylation of the sulfonanilides increases the yields of the rearranged products, and e-withdrawing substituents on the N-phenyl ring does not lower the yields drastically. This study provides simple methodology for the synthesis of o- and p-aminoaryl sulfones which are otherwise not easily accessible. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.