Heterogeneous catalytic sulfimidation using immobilized Cu(acac)2

The heterogeneous sulfimidation of various sulfides by microencapsulated copper(II) acetylacetonate, [MC-Cu(acac)(2)], and Cu(acac)(2) immobilized in ionic liquids using [N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)imino]phenyliodinane (PhI=NTs) as nitrene donor has been developed to afford the corresponding sulfimides in good to excellent yields. In the presence of a chiral bis(oxazoline) as ligand, asymmetric induction occurs to afford the chiral sulfimides (up to 50% ee). The ionic liquid containing the immobilized bis(oxazoline)-copper catalyst can be reused for several cycles with consistent activity and enantioselectivity.