A new, practical access to amidyl radicals.

Amidyl radicals are readily generated from N-allylsulfonimides by the action of a xanthate and a small amount of a peroxide as initiator. The process involves extrusion of sulfur dioxide from an N-amidosulfonyl radical by rupture of the nitrogen-sulfur bond; in some cases, the N-amidosulfonyl radical is prematurely captured by the internal olefinic trap.