N-Acyltrifluoromethanesulfonamides show considerable advantages over the non fluorinated analogues by virtue of their higher reactivity and acidity. The reaction chemoselectivity has been investigated using a wide range of amines. The sensitivity of the reaction to steric and electronic effects confirms the potential application of these reagents in chemoselective acylation of polyamines.
A new, simple and efficient procedure for the preparation of secondary amides through internal condensation of acylmethanesulfonamides ammonium salts is described. The selective acylation of mixed primary–secondary amines could be an attractive application of the new method.