Copper-catalyzed cascade transformation of O-propargylic oximes with sulfonyl azides to α,β-unsaturated N-acylamidines

Copper-catalyzed cascade transformations of O-propargylic oximes and sulfonyl azides were carried out to efficiently afford α,β-unsaturated N-acylamidines. The reaction involved the intramolecular attack of the oxime group to the ketenimine moiety that was generated in situ, followed by the cleavage of the N-O bond.