Nitrogen, heterocyclic compounds imidazole

The electrolysis of asymmetric ketones 43 led to the formation of isomers and stereoisomers. Kinetic measurements for the formation of ketimine 43 in saturated ammoniacal methanol indicated that at least 12 h of the reaction time were required to reach the equilibrium in which approximately 40% of 42 was converted into the ketimine 43. However, the electrolysis was completed within 2.5 h and the products 44 were isolated in 50-76% yields. It seems that the sluggish equilibrium gives a significant concentration of ketimine 43 which is oxidized by the 1 generated at the anode, and the equilibrium is shifted towards formation of the product 44. 2,5-Dihydro-IH-imidazols of type 44, which were unsubstituted on nitrogen, are rare compounds. They can be hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid to afford the corresponding a-amino ketones as versatile synthetic intermediates for a wide variety of heterocyclic compounds, that are otherwise difficult to prepare. 

The most common methods suitable for the synthesis of different azolium compounds will be discussed here. Two routes are particularly useful for the preparation of the imidazolium salts (1) substitution reactions at the nitrogen atoms of imidazole [25] and (2) multicomponent reactions for the generation of an Af,Af -substituted heterocycle which are particularly useful for the synthesis of imidazolium salts bearing aromatic, very bulky, or particularly reactive N,N -sub-stituents (Fig. 3a,b) [26]. Both methods offer the opportunity to produce unsym-metrically substituted imidazolium salts of type 1 either by stepwise alkylation of imidazole or by the synthesis of an W-arylated imidazole derivative followed by 77 -alkylation [27]. Nevertheless, the method of choice for the preparation of the imidazolium salts 1 is the 77,77 -substitution of imidazole. Several other methods for the preparation of imidazolium salts with previously unattainable substitution patterns have also been described [28, 29]. 

Two independent papers have reported the synthesis of nitrogen-heterocycle complexes of the type [RhCl3(py-X)3] (py-X = 3-Etpy, 3-CNpy, 4-Etpy, or 4-CNpy) and rr(ans-[RhY2L4] (Y = Cl or Br L = several substituted pyridines, isoquinoline, pyrimidine, pyrazole, thiazole, and substituted imidazoles). All the compounds were prepared catalytically by boiling RhCl3.3H20 with ethanolic solutions of L. It is interesting that 2-substituted... 

Alcohols containing nitrogen heterocycles are also smoothly oxidized to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. These heterocycles include pyridine, imidazole and triazole derivatives. 

Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as indoles and imidazoles are also formylated by the electron-rich olefin. 3-Methylimidazol-5-carboxaldehyde can be prepared from 2-methyl-imidazole (yield 83%) and 2-phenylindole-3-carboxaldehyde from 2-phenylindole (yield 64%). 

The Maillard reaction plays an important role in flavor development, especially in meat and savory flavor (Buckholz, 1988). Products of the Maillard reaction are aldehydes, acids, sulfur compounds (e.g., hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol), nitrogen compounds (e.g., ammonia and amines), and heterocyclic compounds such as furans, pyrazines, pyrroles, pyridines, imidazoles, oxazoles, thiazoles, thiophenes, di- and trithiolanes, di- and trithianes, and furanthiols (Martins et al., 2001). Higher temperature results in production of more heterocyclic compounds, among which many have a roasty, toasty, or caramel-like aroma. 

The Chichibabin reaction with imidazoles has been the subject of extensive study in the U.S.S.R. (82CHE1221). Criteria for successful amination require that the imidazole ring be condensed with an aromatic system at the 4-and 5-positions, and that the pyrrole nitrogen be substituted (Scheme 72) (73CHE88). Another requirement is that the heterocycle must have a pK, of at least 4.3 for heterogeneous aminations. The parent compound, imidazole, substituted in the 1-position, does not undergo the Chichibabin reaction. Even substituted imidazoles such as phenanthro[9,10-d] imidazole (204) do not aminate (73CHE88). 

These compounds satisfy the criteria for aromaticity (planar, cyclic n system, and the Huckel number of 4n -I- 2 71 electrons) pyrrole, imidazole, indole, pyridine, 2-methylpyridine, pyrimidine, and purine. The systems with 6 7i electrons are pyrrole, imidazole, pyridine, 2-methylpyridine, and pyrimidine. The systems with 10 7i electrons are indole and purine. The other nitrogen heterocycles shown are not aromatic because they do not have cyclic 7i systems. 

The reaction of nucleophilic radicals, under acidic conditions, with heterocycies containing an imine unit is by far the most important and synthetically useful radical substitution of heterocyclic compounds. Pyri-dines, quinolines, diazines, imidazoles, benzothiazoles and purines are amongst the systems that have been shown to react with a wide range of nucleophilic radicals, selectively at positions a and y to the nitrogen, with replacement of hydrogen. Acidic conditions are essential because A-protonation of the heterocycle... 

The catalyst system for the modem methyl acetate carbonylation process involves rhodium chloride trihydrate [13569-65-8]y methyl iodide [74-88-4], chromium metal powder, and an alumina support or a nickel carbonyl complex with triphenylphosphine, methyl iodide, and chromium hexacarbonyl (34). The use of nitrogen-heterocyclic complexes and rhodium chloride is disclosed in one European patent (35). In another, the alumina catalyst support is treated with an organosilicon compound having either a terminal organophosphine or similar ligands and rhodium or a similar noble metal (36). Such a catalyst enabled methyl acetate carbonylation at 200°C under about 20 MPa (2900 psi) carbon monoxide, with a space-time yield of 140 g anhydride per g rhodium per hour. Conversion was 42.8% with 97.5% selectivity. A homogeneous catalyst system for methyl acetate carbonylation has also been disclosed (37). A description of another synthesis is given where anhydride conversion is about 30%, with 95% selectivity. The reaction occurs at 445 K under 11 MPa partial pressure of carbon monoxide (37). A process based on a montmorillonite support with nickel chloride coordinated with imidazole has been developed (38). Other related processes for carbonylation to yield anhydride are also available (39,40). 

It is less toxic relative to pyrrole and other five-membered heterocyclic compounds of nitrogen. Intraperitoneal administration of imidazole caused somnolence, muscle contractions, and convulsions in mice. The oral LD50 value in mice is in the range 900 mg/kg. 

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