Aminonitrile

Allylic amine is a less reactive leaving group[7], but the allylic ammonium salts 214 (quaternary ammonium salts) can be used for allylalion(l30,131]. Allylic sulfonium salts are also used for the allylation[130]. The allylic nitrile in the cyclic aminonitrile 215 can be displaced probably via x-allylic complex formation. The possibility of the formation of the dihydropyridinium salts 216 and subsequent conjugate addition are less likelyfl 32],... 

The thiazole ring can be obtained directly by other methods, but they have limited application. An example is the synthesis of Cook and Heilbron using a-aminonitriles or a-aminoamides and carbon disulfide (or thioacid derivatives) as reactants of type II. 

This type of synthesis, which was investigated by Cook and Heilbron (323) and Takahashi (393, 394) between 1947 and 1953, gives 5-aminothiazoles variously substituted in the 2-position by reacting an aminonitrile with salts and esters of dithioacids, carbon disulfide, carbon oxysulfide, and isothiocyanates under exceptionally mild conditions. 

By condensing the salts or the esters of either dithioformic (207) or dithiophenacetic acids with a-aminonitriles (206) 5-aminothiazoles (209), in which R] = hydrogen, benzyl and Rj = phenyl, carbethoxy, or car-bophenoxy, were obtained in fairly good yields (Scheme 108) (271). These reactions were carried out in aqueous ethereal solution at room temperature. Acyclic thioamides as intermediates in this reaction have been isolated in some cases (208). 

Carbon disulfide readily reacts with a-aminonitriles giving 2-mercapto-5-aminothiazoles (213), (271, 293) which can be converted to 5-aminothiazoles unsubstituted in the 2-position (Scheme 110 and Table II-34a). If this reaction is carried out in the presence of benzyl chloride in phosphorus tribromide, a 2-S-substituted thiazole derivative (214) is obtained in quantitative yield (Scheme 111), with R = hydrogen or phenyl (68, 304). 

When benzaldehyde or its substituted derivatives are added to carbon disulfide and a-aminonitrile, the corresponding 2-mercapto-5-(p-R-benzylideneamino)thiazoles (215), R = hydrogen atom or a propenyl or phenyl group and Ar = aryl, are obtained (Scheme 112) (393, 442, 694). Yields ranged from 40 to 60% (Table II-34b). 

Reactions were carried out by condensing a-aminonitriles [NCCHiRiiNHJ with carbon disulfide in the presence of aldehydes (R CHO) or ketones [Pg.287]

By condensing carbon oxysulfide with o-aminOnitriles the corresponding 2-hydroxy-5-aminothiazoles can be obtained. In the presence of benzaldehyde or its substituted derivatives the reaction leads to 5-benzy-lideneaminothiazole derivatives (218) in good yields (Scheme 114 and Table 11.35) (393, 442). However, the reaction fails with or-amino acetonitrile (206), R = H (317). The 2-alkoxy analogs (220), R = Me, Et, Pr, Bu, vinyl, were similarly obtained from 219 and benzylideneamino acetonitrile (Scheme 115a) (393). 

TABLE 11-35 2-HYDROXV-5-AMINOTHIAZOLES DERIVATIVES FROM o-AMINONITRILE AND CARBON OXYSULnOE-... 

Isothiocyanates of general formula 221 condensed with a-aminonitriles lead to 2-substituted 5-aminothiazoles (223) (Table 11-36) through an acyclic intermediate (222) (Scheme 116). 

The propensity of nitriles to release cyanide subsequent to metaboHsm is the basis of their acute toxicity. Nitriles that form tertiary radicals at their alpha carbon atoms (eg, isobutyronitrile, 2-methylbutyronitrile) are substantially more acutely lethal than nitriles that form secondary radicals at their alpha carbons (eg, butyronitrile, propionitnle). Cyanohydrins are acutely toxic because they are unstable and release cyanide quickly. Alpha-aminonitriles are also acutely toxic, presumably by analogy with cyanohydrins. 

CX-Aminonitriles are compounds containing both cyano and amine substituents attached to the same carbon atom. They are versatile synthetic intermediates that are used to make aminoacids, agrichemicals, chelants, radical initiators, and water-treatment chemicals. In some cases, aminonitriles produced as intermediates are not isolated, but immediately further reacted, for example by hydrolysis, as is the case in producing... 

Uses, cx-Aminonitriles may be hydrolyzed to aminoacids, such as is done in producing ethylenediaminetetracetate (EDTA) or nittilotriacetate (NTA). In these cases, formaldehyde is utilized in place of a ketone in the synthesis. The principal use of the ketone-based aminonitriles described above is in the production of azobisnittile radical initiators (see below). AN-64 is also used as an intermediate in the synthesis of the herbicide Bladex. Aminonitriles are also excellent intermediates for the synthesis of substituted hydantoins by reaction with carbon dioxide however, this is not currently commercially practiced. 

With acrylonitrile, mono- and dialkanolamines undergo a Michael addition to give the P-aminonitrile. 

Cyanohydrins (qv) are formed by the reaction of glucose and similar compounds with hydrogen cyanide. The corresponding aminonitrile from methyl isobutyl ketone can be formed with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. 

Ammonium cyanide [12211-52-8] NH CN, a colorless crystalline soHd, is relatively unstable, and decomposes into ammonia and hydrogen cyanide at 36°C. Ammonium cyanide reacts with ketones (qv) to yield aminonitriles. Reaction of ammonium cyanide with glyoxal produces glycine. Because of its unstable nature, ammonium cyanide is not shipped or sold commercially. Unless it is kept cool and dry, decomposition releases vapors and forms black hydrogen cyanide polymer. 

Monooximes of a-diketones have found applicability in the synthesis of 2-aminopyrazine 1-oxides by condensation with a-aminonitriles, and this reaction was used by White and coworkers in an approach to the synthesis of Cypridina etioluciferamine (Scheme 66 R = 3-indoloyl) (73T3761). In this instance, the use of TiCU as a catalyst was essential, since the carbonyl group in 3-acylindoles is normally deactivated and the required amine/carbonyl condensation is impractically slow. Under normal circumstances the carbonyl group in simple alkyl-substituted monoximes of a-diketones is the more reactive site and the reaction is rapid, requiring no catalysis (69LA(726)loo). 

The use of guanidine for cyclization gives amino substituted derivatives (e.g. 212) (52CB1012), and in this case o-aminonitriles may be used to furnish diamines (e.g. 8UOC1394). An unusual reaction involving nitriles occurred during the preparation of nicotinonitrile from the amide and ammonium sulfamate, when a 60% yield of the dimeric by-product (213) was formed via the nitrile (69BSB289). Similar products have been obtained from... 

It is possible to prepare iminium salts from aminonitriles such as 11 and silver nitrate (70). The reported yields (20-60%) are not particularly high, but the method was useful in the preparation of simple iminium salts such as isopropylidinedimethylaminium nitrate (12) (10). 

The stereospecific generation of enamines by -elimination reactions (187) and a vinylogous elimination, which leads to a dienamine (188), have been reported. The loss of an a substituent from a tertiary amine is seen in the generation of enamines by elimination of hydrogen cyanide from benzylic a-aminonitriles (189,190). 

The condensation of ketones with 3-aminonitriles or S-aminoesters ai cyclization to 4-pyridone derivatives was expanded (717-719). 

Thiohydantoin 9 was obtained from the treatment of carbonyl 1 with carbon disulfide and ammonium cyanide in aqueous methanol. The transformation could also be carried out step-wise, that is, treatment of 1 with ammonium cyanide to form aminonitrile 10 followed by reaction with carbon disulfide to produce thiohydantoin 9. Alternatively, 5,5-disubstituted 4-thiohydantoins could be prepared by the reaction of ketones with ammonium monothiocarbamate and sodium cyanide. ... 

The mechanism of the Cook-Heilbron reaction between a-aminonitriles and dithioformic ester 6 proceeds via an acyclic intermediate 7, as proven by its isolation in several cases. Nucleophilic attack of the amine function on the sulfur-bearing carbon leads to the elimination of hydrogen sulphide. Cyclization of the acyclic thiacetoamide results in a five membered ring which aromatises favourably to give 5-amino-2-benzylthiazole 8. 

The reaction of a-aminonitriles and carbon disulphide was stated by Cook and Heilbron to give 5-amino-2-mercaptothiazoles however, they later found that the same reaction with aminoacetonitrile was more complex. When aminoacetonitrile sulphate in ethanolic solution was treated with carbon disulphide, the dithiodicarbamate 9 was formed. Benzylation was then carried out treatment of the resulting ester 10 with phosphorus tribromide with subsequent loss of water gave 5-amino-2-benzylthiothiazole 11 in a quantitative fashion. The rapid reaction was thought to be the first example of the formation of a 5-aminothiazole from an a-aminoamide. 

These thiazoles are of specific interest in that they display exceptional pharmacological properties. Additionally, the unsaturated 2-aminonitrile functionality of the above thiazoles is recognized for its versatile functionality and therefore for its ensuing significance in the synthesis of heterocycles. The synthetic utility of thiazoles 13a-f is illustrated by the reactions of the unsaturated 2-aminonitrile functionality in compounds 13b and 13c with formamidine acetate, resulting in the thiazolopyrimidines 14a and 14c respectively. The synthesis of this relatively rare family of heterocycles provides a route into structurally similar bioactive compounds. ... 

The reaction of carbon oxysulphide with a-aminonitriles results in 5-amino-2-hydroxy thiazoles these are structurally similar to the 2-mercaptothiazoles but are found to be less stable, readily undergoing cleavage or rearrangement to give 4-thiohydantoins. Thus the reaction between ethyl aminocyanoacetate and carbon oxysulphide 31 in ether afforded 5-amino-2-hydroxy-4-carbethoxythiazole 32, which in the presence of aqueous ammonia was converted into 5-carbethoxy-4-thiohydantoin 33. When using sodium... 

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