Transforming Oxadiazolines through Nitrene Intermediates by Energy Transfer Catalysis: Access to Sulfoximines and Benzimidazoles

Subtle differences in reaction conditions facilitated unprecedented photocatalytic reactions of oxadiazolines by energy transfer catalysis. A set of compounds, sulfoximines and benzimidazoles, were ingeniously prepared from oxadiazolines via nitrene intermediates by photocatalytic N–O/C–N bond cleavages. The synthesis of sulfoximines was realized through intermolecular N–S bond formation between nitrene intermediates and sulfoxides, whereas benzimidazoles were obtained via intramolecular aromatic substitution of the nitrene to the tethered aryl substituent.