Aniline aldimine formation

Anilines react with ct-haloacetophenones to give 2-arylindoles. In a typical procedure an W-phenacylaniline is heated with a tw o-fold excess of the aniline hydrobromide to 200-250°C[1]. The mechanism of the reaction was the subject of considerable investigation in the 1940s[2]. A crucial aspect of the reaction seems to be the formation of an imine of the acetophenone which can isomerize to an aldimine intermediate. This intermediate apparently undergoes cyclization more rapidly (path bl -> b2) than its precursor (Scheme 7.3). Only with very reactive rings, e.g, 3,5-dimethoxyaniline, has the alternative cydiz-ation (path al a2) to a 3-arylindole been observed and then only under modified reaction conditions[3],... 

Petrow described the formation of 3-iminoketones from 3-keto-aldehydes and aniline. Cyclization in the presence of aniline hydrochloride and ZnCh smoothly provides the desired quinoline 26. Bis-imine 24 is the proposed intermediate that undergoes cyclization. The aldimine is more reactive than the ketimine toward cyclization thus, cyclization on the aldimine occurs. When the bis-imine is not formed, partial aniline migration can occur which results in mixtures of cyclized products. 

We have previously discussed that keto-aldehydes react with anilines first at the aldehyde carbon to form the aldimine. Subsequent condensation with another aniline formed a bis-imine or enamino-imine. The aniline of the ketimine normally cyclizes on the aldimine (24 —> 26). Conversely, cyclization of the aldimine could be forced with minimal aniline migration to the ketimine using PPA (30 —> 31). The use of unsymmetrical ketones has not been thoroughly explored a few examples are cited below. One-pot enamine formation and cyclization occurred when aniline 48 was reacted with dione 49 in the presence of catalytic p-TsOH and heat. Imine formation occurred at the less-hindered ketone, and cyclization with attack on the reactive carbonyl was preferred. ... 

Quinazolinones are an important class of fused heterocycles that have been reported with remarkable activities in biology and pharmacology such as anticancer, antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Alper and Zheng reported a palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of o-iodoanilines with imidoyl chlorides to produce quinazolin-4(3H)-ones in 2008. A wide variety of substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones were prepared in 63-91% yields (Scheme 3.27a). The reaction is believed to proceed via in situ formation of an amidine, followed by oxidative addition, CO insertion, and intramolecular cyclization to give the substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. Later on, a procedure was established based on generating the amidine in situ by a copper-catalyzed reaction of terminal allq nes, sulfonyl azide and o-iodo-anilines. The desired quinazolinones can be produced by carbonylation with Pd(OAc)2-DPPB-NEt3-THF as the reaction system. In the same year, Alper s group developed a procedure for 2,3-dihydro-4(lH)-quinazolinone preparation. The reaction started with the reaction of 2-iodoanilines and N-toluenesulfonyl aldimines followed by palladium-catalyzed intramolecular... 

Cinnamic acid yields phenylacetaldehyde, probably through formation of styrylamine (X), rearrangement to the aldimine (XI), and hydrolysis. Aniline is obtained as a by-product, and no explanation has been given for its formation. 

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