A variety of N-acyl-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-nitrobenzenesulfonamides (1a-e) were synthesized in one pot from 4-chloroaniline under solvent-free conditions and have been developed as chemoselective N-acylation reagents. Selective protection of primary amines in the presence of secondary amines, acylation of aliphatic amines in the presence of aryl amines, and monofunctionalization of primary-secondary diamines as well as selective N-acylation of amino alcohols using these reagents are described. All of the acylation reactions were carried out in water as a green solvent. High stability and easy preparation of these acylating reagents are other advantages of this method.

New sulfonamides of type (I) are used as acylating agents for primary amines.