Imines aldimines

Keywords Cyanation, a-Cyanohydrin, a-Aminonitrile, Cyanide, HCN, TMSCN, Lewis acid, Metal-free, Organocatalyst, C=0 bond, C=N bond, Strecker, Reissert, Aldehydes, Ketones, Imines, Aldimines, Ketoimines... 

This transformation, proceeds via an in situ oxidation-imination-aldimine oxidation sequence. 

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. ... 

The [4-1-3] cycloaddition has also been realized in acceptors containing a nitrogen atom. While a,/ -unsaturated aldimines, and structurally flexible ketimine such as (87), generally only undergo [3-1-2] cycloadditions (see Scheme 24), the ketimine (112), which is rigidly held in a cisoid conformation, does give exclusively the [4-1-3] adduct azepine (113). On the other hand, the steroidal imine (114) produces a quantitative yield of a 1 1 mixture of the [4-1-3] and [3-1-2] cycloadducts (115) and (116), respectively (Scheme 2.31) [36]. 

The synthesis of vinylaziridines through reactions between allylic carbenoid reagents and imines (i.e., Darzen-type reactions) was first reported by Mauze in 1980 [13]. Treatment of aldimines or ketimines 16 with gem-chloro(methyl)allyllithium (17) afforded N-substituted vinylaziridines 18 (Scheme 2.6). Similarly, 2,3-trans-N-diphenylphosphinyl-2-vinylaziridines 21 were prepared with good stereoselectivities (trans cis= 10 1 Scheme 2.7) by treatment of a-bromoallyllithium (20) with N-diphenylphosphinyl aldimines 19 in the presence of zinc chloride [14]. 

Another occasionally used method for the preparation of acyclic A-(l-alkoxyalkyl)amides (or carbamates) proceeds via addition of reactive carboxylic acid derivatives to aldimines. In a one-pot procedure, treatment of the imine with the acid chloride (or ethyl chloroformate) and subsequent (m)ethanolysisofthe intermediary a-chloroamide leads to the oc-alkoxyamide56-58. 

Recent efforts in the development of efficient routes to highly substituted yS-ami-no acids based on asymmetric Mannich reactions with enantiopure sulfmyl imine are worthy of mention. Following the pioneering work of Davis on p-tolu-enesulfmyl imines [116], Ellman and coworkers have recently developed a new and efficient approach to enantiomerically pure N-tert-butanesulfmyl imines and have reported their use as versatile intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines [91]. Addition of titanium enolates to tert-butane sulfmyl aldimines and ketimines 31 proceeds in high yields and diastereoselectivities, thus providing general access to yS -amino acids 32 (Scheme 2.5)... 

The addition of terminal acetylenes to imines is an important reaction because of the importance of these products as building blocks. Conventionally, the addition reaction shown in Scheme 5.2 is performed with stoichiometric amounts of butyllithium in a step that is, separate from the subsequent nucleophilic addition reaction (see (b)). Carreira has recently developed a procedure that utilizes an iridium catalyst to effect the addition reaction to a wide range of aldimines and ketimines (see (a)). ... 

The reaction is also applicable to a wide structural variety of 1,3-dienes, as demonstrated by the reaction of 2-furfural-p-anisidine imine (Table 9). All dienes react with the aldimine regioselectively at the diene termini bearing the highest electron densities and provide bis-homoallyl amines with excellent 1,3-syn diastereoselectivity. No C4-adducts are formed in these reactions. 

Dichloroneopentylsilene is formed in situ by reaction of trichlorovinylsilane with LirBu [1], The [2+2] cycloaddition to imines yields Si-dichloro functionalized 2-silaazetidines in a preparative scale [2], When aldimines are used as trapping agents for the silene, the resulting SiN-four membered ring compounds are isolated as syn/anti-isomers (syn/anti 2/1). 

Aziridines have been synthesized, albeit in low yield, by copper-catalyzed decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of an inline 260). It seems that such a carbenoid cyclopropanation reaction has not been realized with other diazo compounds. The recently described preparation of 1,2,3-trisubstituted aziridines by reaction of phenyldiazomethane with N-alkyl aldimines or ketimines in the presence of zinc iodide 261 > most certainly does not proceed through carbenoid intermediates rather, the metal salt serves to activate the imine to nucleophilic attack from the diazo carbon. Replacement of Znl2 by one of the traditional copper catalysts resulted in formation of imidazoline derivatives via an intermediate azomethine ylide261). 

Selective cyclization of an alkenyl imine is catalyzed by trimethylsilyl triflate (Scheme 76).329 /-Butyldimethylsilyl triflate ( BuN SiOTf) catalyzes imino Diels-Alder reactions of TV-phenyl-aromatic aldimines to afford exo adducts preferentially.330 When A1C13 is used instead of Bufv SiOTf, endo adducts are obtained predominantly. 

Rapid monoalkylations are achieved in good yield compared with classical methods. Of particular interest is the synthesis of ot-amino acids by alkylation of aldimines with microwave activation. Subsequent acidic hydrolysis of the alkylated imine provides leucine, serine, or phenylalanine in preparatively useful yields within 1-5 min [50], Alkylation of phenylacetonitrile was performed by solid-liquid PTC in 1-3 min under microwave irradiation (Eq. 36 and Tab. 5.14). The nitriles obtained can subsequently be quickly hydrolyzed in a microwave oven to yield the corresponding amides or acids [56]. 

The range of imines that are suitable for reaction has been extended to include the fluoro-substituted aldimines 317 <2002JCM131> and N-unsubstituted imines 319 <1999AXC2158, 2002PJC1137, 2003TL2015>, thus allowing access to 5-fluoroalkyl-4,5-dihydro-l,2,4-oxadiazoles 318 and 4-unsubstituted 4,5-dihydro-l,2,4-oxadiazoles 320 as shown in Equations (60) and (61), respectively. 

Also, nitrones can be formed by photochemical oxidation (X350 nm) of aldimines in acetonitrile, in the presence of O2 over a TiC>2 suspension (20, 21). Air oxidation of imines into oxaziridines with their subsequent transformation into nitrones, using cobalt catalysts, provides good yields. Utilization of molecular oxygen in the oxidation process seems highly promising due to its cost-effectiveness, availability, and the possibility of industrial application (22). 

Intramolecular process with rhodium catalyst has been described for the syntheses of indane, dihydroindoles, dihydrofurans, tetralins, and other polycyclic compounds. Wilkinson catalyst is efficient for the cyclization of aromatic ketimines and aldimines containing alkenyl groups tethered to the K z-position of the imine-directing group. 

Intramolecular addition of trialkylboranes to imines and related compounds have been reported and the main results are part of review articles [94, 95]. Addition of ethyl radicals generated from Et3B to aldimines affords the desired addition product in fair to good yield but low diaster control (Scheme 40, Eq. 40a) [96]. Similar reactions with aldoxime ethers [97], aldehyde hydrazones [97], and N-sulfonylaldimines [98] are reported. Radical addition to ketimines has been recently reported (Eq. 40b) [99]. Addition of triethylborane to 2H-azirine-3-carboxylate derivatives is reported [100]. Very recently, Somfai has extended this reaction to the addition of different alkyl radicals generated from trialkylboranes to a chiral ester of 2ff-azirine-3-carboxylate under Lewis acid activation with CuCl (Eq. 40c) [101]. 

Fig. 6.4 Reversible interconversion of amino acid and keto acid. Conjugation of the imine bond in the aldimine with the electron sink of the pyridine ring plus protonation of the pyridine nitrogen as well as the metal ion - all this results in weakening of the C-H bond of the amino acid residue. Thus, also catalyzed is a-proton exchange, racemization of a chiral center at the a-carbon atom and decarboxylation of the appropriate amino acid. ...

Furthermore, when trimethylsilylacetylene 40 was used as an alkyne in the [IrCl(cod)]2-catalyzed reaction, propargyUc amines (where the alkyne was added to the double bond of imine) were obtained (Equation 10.7) [21, 23]. It is probable that the reaction proceeds through oxidative addition of the terminal C—H bond of alkyne to the Ir complex, followed by the insertion of imine to the resulting Ir-H complex. The crosscoupling reachon of trimethylsilyl (TMS)-acetylene with aldimines took place by [IrCl(cod)]2, leading to the corresponding adducts (Equahon 10.8) [24]. 

As mentioned above, iridium complexes are also active in the formation of amines via the hydrosilylation/protodesUylation of imines. In the presence of 2 equiv. of HSiEts, the cationic complex [lr bis(pyrazol-l-yl)methane (CO)2][BPh4] (C4) catalyzes the reduction of various imines, including N-alkyl and N-aryl imines and both aldimines and ketimmes. Excellent conversions directly to the amine products were achieved rapidly at room temperature in a methanol solution (Scheme 14.7) [53]. 

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