Eschweiler-Clarke cyclization

Iminium ion-alkene cyclizations accomplished under standard Eschweiler-Clarke methylation conditions have been employed to prepare five-, six- and seven-membered azacycles (Scheme It is... 

Iminium ion-alkene cyclizations accomplished under standard Eschweiler-Clarke methylation conditions have been employed to prepare five-, six- and seven-membered azacycles (Scheme 25).57,58 It is important to note that under identical conditions amines (62) and (63) did not cyclize but afforded the corresponding IVjV-dimethylamines. With regard to the alkene participant these results are in full accord with Baldwin s rules for ring formation.2 However, the formation of pyrrolidine (61) demonstrates that 5-endo-trig cyclizations2 can take place with respect to the iminium ion n-participant. The observed regioselectivity and the failure of (63) to cyclize are in accord with obligatory formation of an intermediate with tertiary carbocation character. 

This reaction was initially reported by Eschweiler in 1905, and subsequently by Clarke and co-workers in 1933. It is the preparation of tertiary methylamines from primary or secondary amines by means of the treatment of those amines with an excess amount of aqueous formaldehyde and formic acid. Therefore, it is generally known as the Eschweiler-Clarke methylation. In addition, this reaction is also referred to as the Eschweiler-Clarke condition," Eschweiler-Clarke A -methylation, Eschweiler-Clarke procedure, -) Eschweiler-Clarke reaction, s.3j,7 Eschweiler-Clarke reductive methylation, Eschweiler-Clarke reductive -methylation, Clarke-Eschweiler methylation, Clarke-Eschweiler reaction,or Clarke-Eschweiler procedure. In this reaction, the formate anion donates its proton to reduce the imine or iminium salt, so that carbon dioxide is evolved. Thus the whole process is a reductive amination of formaldehyde. This reaction is very useful for the reductive amination, without the application of hydrogen gas, catalyst (e.g., Pd/C), and high-pressure apparatus and has been widely applied to alkaloid chemistry. A special case of such reductive amination that occurs on phenylethylamine and results in the formation of tetrahydroisoquinolines is also referred to as the Clarke-Eschweiler cyclization. In a few cases, the methylation also occurs on an aromatic ring during the reductive amination. J... 

Erdmann (see Volhard-Erdmann Cyclization) Erlenmeyer-Plochl Azlactone and Amino Acid Synthesis Eschenmoser Coupling Reaction Eschenmoser Fragmentation Eschenmoser-Claisen Rearrangement Eschenmoser-Tanabe Fragmentation Eschweiler-Clarke Reaction Etard Reaction... 

Cyclization of the hydroxyamide was achieved by treatment of 35 with 2.2 equivalents of sodium hydride followed by the addition of tosyl chloride to the resultant dianion. The dihydropyrrolo[3,2-6]pyridine 36 was isolated in 84% yield by this process. Conversion of 36 to the N-methyl dihydropyrrolo[3,2-fe]pyriine 37 was accomplished by removal of the acetamide with sodium ethoxide followed by methylation of the N-H dihydropyrrolo[3,2-i>]pyridine using Eschweiler-Clark conditions. 

Eschweiler s. Clarke Ester condensation (s. a. Dieck-mann cyclization, Oxalic ester synthesis)... 

Grieco s synthesis of cryptopleurine 70 and julandine 68 (see end of section 2.3.1), via an intramolecular imino Diels-Alder reaction for construction of the quinolizidine nucleus, failed in the case of the related indolizidine alkaloid, tylophorine [38]. Submitting phenanthryl amine 113 to the identical aza Diels-Alder conditions used for cryptopleurine only yields by-products (114), as a result of a Clarke-Eschweiler type of cyclization. No tylophorine is detected under these conditions ... 

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