Cyanoimidazole

Hydrolysis of the trifluoromethyl group of 2 tnfluoiomethylimidazoles is promoted by the formation of the anion, which readily eliminates fluoride. The resultant ditluorodiazafulvene then easily adds water The remaining steps in the hydrolysis ate predictable When aqueous ammonia is used, 2-cyanoimidazoles result [40] (equation 4])... 

Substituted imidazole 1-oxides 263 upon treatment with dimethyl or diethyl sulfate furnish l-alkoxy-3-subtituted imidazolium salts 283 that were converted to the tetrafluoroborate 283 (A- = BF4 ) or hexafluorophos-phates 283 (A = PF6-) by treatment with sodium tetrafluoroborate or hexa-fluorophosphate (2007ZN(A)295). The tetrafluoroborates 283 (A = BF4 ) reacted with cyanide ion to give 2-cyanoimidazoles 285 (1975JCS(P1)275). The reaction probably follows a mechanism similar to that suggested to be operative in the pyrazole series encompassing O-alkylation succeeded by nucleophilic addition and elimination of methanol (Scheme 85). 

Reaction of 4,5-disubstituted imidazole 1-oxide with trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) leads to 2-cyanoimidazole. If devoid of substituents at C4 and C5, the cyano (CN) group also enters these positions (1996JOC6971). The reactivity of the 2-, 4-, and 5-position is comparable and 245 reacts with TMSCN affording the isomeric cyanoimidazoles 296-298 in a ratio that depends on the nature of the 3-substituent, solvent polarity, and reaction temperature. These parameters could be optimized to give each of the three cyano compounds as the major product. Mechanisms (iii) and (iv) (Section 1.5.1.3 and 1.5.1.4) account for the formation of 296-298 (Scheme 88). 

Hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid converts an imidazole-2-aldehyde into a mixture of the carboximidamide and the 2-cyanoimidazole (79JHC871). 

There are considerable data available on imidazole formation by ring contractions of pyrimidines, pyrazincs and triazines [15, 43, 59-61]. Few of the reactions, however, have synthetic potential except perhaps for the thermolytic conversions of azidopyrimidines and azidopyrazines into 1-cyano-substituled imidazoles, and the reactions of chloropyrimidines and chloropyrazines with potassium amide in liquid ammonia to give 4- and 2-cyanoimidazoles, respectively. Ring contractions of quinoxaline 1-oxides may also have some applications. 

Chloropyrazines undergo ring contraction when treated with potassium amide in liquid ammonia. The reactions resemble those of pyridines and pyrimidines, and may be useful for making 2-cyanoimidazoles despite the formation of product mixtures and low yields. For example, 2-chloropyrazine is converted into a mixture of 2-aminopyrazine (15%), imidazole (14-15%) and 2-cyanoimidazole (30-36%) [82]. In a similar experiment, 2-cyano-4-phenylimidazole (19%) can be obtained 83J. 

The reaction of 2potassium amide in liquid ammonia to give 2-cyanoimidazole, imidazole, and 2-aminopyridine has been investigated (911). It has been found that 2-chloropyrazine containing an excess of in position 1, on treatment with potassium amide in liquid ammonia at — 65° yields 2-aminopyrazine in which the exocyclic nitrogen contains all the excess and an addition-nucleophilic-ring opening-ring closure (ANRORC) mechanism was proposed (822). The mechanism of the conversions into imidazole (823) and... 

The ring contraction of chloropyrazines to 2-cyanoimidazoles when treated with potassium amide in liquid ammonia has synthetic importance. Labeling experiments have proved the origins of the nitrogen... 

Methyl groups, particularly at C-2, are active and can condense with carbonyl compounds to give unsaturated derivatives. " When heated with nitrosyl chloride or an AT-oxide, l,2-dimethyl-5-nitroimidazole (137) gives the corresponding 2-cyanoimidazole. Although 137 reacts with dimethylformamide dicyclohexyl acetal to give the dimethylaminoalkene 138, and with pyridine and iodine to give the salt 139, the less activated... 

Typical procedure. l-Benzyl-4-bromo-5-cyanoimidazole 1439 [1094] A mixture of the requisite oxime (5.0 g, 17.86 mmol) and phosphoryl chloride (20 mL, excess) was heated under reflux for 30 min, then cooled and poured into ice/water. The precipitate was collected by filtration and recrystallized from ethyl acetate/light petroleum to give l-benzyl-3-bromo-2-cyanoimidazole 1439 (3.9 g, 83%) mp 75-77 °C. 

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