Three-component reaction of propargyl amines, sulfonyl azides, and alkynes: one-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles.

An efficient and straightforward strategy for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles from propargyl amines, sulfonyl azides, and terminal alkynes is described. N-sulfonyl ketenimine and aminoallene are believed to be the key intermediates for this two-step one-pot transformation.