The reaction of a sulfonamide moiety with HBTU (O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-NNN',N'-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate) during amide coupling, leading to the formation of tetramethylsulfonylguanidines, is described. Optimised conditions showed that HBTU was as a convenient agent for the synthesis of tetramethylsulfonylguanidines, in basic conditions. A panel of diverse sulfonamides was used to demonstrate the scope of this procedure. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.