Encouraged by the results, the effect of using different copper source, co-oxidant, TDG loading, concentration and base were investigated in order to develop a catalytic process. Key findings were that inexpensive and readily available copper(II) acetate in combination with MnO2 was an effective catalyst system. Furthermore, the addition of a base was no longer required as the MnO2 could fulfill this role in deprotonating the acetic acid formed in situ while reoxidising Cu I to Cu II . Under these optimized conditions, the desired sulfonyl amine 3aa was isolated in 68% yield (Table , entry 1). Reactions performed on 0.2 mmol scale with respect to the sulfinate salt. a Yield determined by 1 H NMR using 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene as an internal standard. Isolated yield in parenthesis. The starting material is volatile so recovered starting material was not reliably determined.