Preparation of unsymmetrical sulfonylureas from N,N′-sulfuryldiimidazoles

The synthetic methods reported in the literature for the preparation of sulfonylureas tend to be restricted in scope or unsuitable for use in parallel synthesis. We have developed a method for preparing sterically congested sulfonylureas based on N,N'-sulfuryldiimidazole that is both convenient and amenable to parallel synthesis. Sequential activation by way of alkylation of the imidazole group using methyl triflate followed by nucleophilic displacement with a variety of amines and anilines afford the unsymmetrical sulfonylurea. Sulfonylureas prepared from anilines were obtained in high yields using N,N'-sulfuryldiimidazole, while the somewhat more sterically congested analogue, NN'-sulfurylbis-2-methylimidazole, proved to be superior for alkylamines.