Regioselective Ring Expansion of 2,4-Diiminoazetidines via Cleavage of C–N and C(sp³)–H Bonds: Efficient Construction of 2,3-Dihydropyrimidinesulfonamides

A highly regioselective base-mediated ring expansion of 2,4-diiminoazetidines via cleavage of C–N and C­(sp³)–H bonds is achieved for the first time to afford efficiently 2,3-dihydropyrimidinesulfonamides. The mechanism of the ring expansion via tandem 4π electrocyclic ring-opening/1,5-H shift/6π electrocyclic ring-closing is well confirmed by the trapping experiments of two key intermediates and deuterium labeling studies.