Racemization free protocol for the synthesis of N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines.

A general and robust racemization-free protocol for the synthesis of a variety of N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines is reported. Reaction progress was monitored by (1)H NMR using the nonperturbing internal standard diglyme, and ketimines were formed in good to high yields in either THF or CPME (cyclopentyl methyl ether) as solvent with heating to reflux.