Nitrogen ylide cyclizations azomethine ylides

During studies on the use of amidines as azomethine ylide sources, Jones et al. (67-69) reported in a series of papers the application of their general strategy to an asymmetric process. Quatemization of the dihydroimidazole 214 with an a-halo ester followed by DBU-induced ylide formation and subsequent cyclization furnished a range of nitrogen heterocycles in a one pot generation and cyclization protocol (70) (Scheme 3.73). 

The use of lithium amides to metalate the a-position of the N-substituent of imines generates 2-azaallyl anions, typically stabilized by two or three aryl groups (Scheme 11.2) (48-62), a process pioneered by Kauffmann in 1970 (49). Although these reactive anionic species may be regarded as N-lithiated azomethine ylides if the lithium metal is covalently bonded to the imine nitrogen, they have consistently been discussed as 2-azaallyl anions. Their cyclization reactions are characterized by their enhanced reactivity toward relatively unactivated alkenes such as ethene, styrenes, stilbenes, acenaphtylene, 1,3-butadienes, diphenylacetylene, and related derivatives. Accordingly, these cycloaddition reactions are called anionic [3+2] cycloadditions. Reactions with the electron-poor alkenes are rare (54,57). Such reactivity makes a striking contrast with that of N-metalated azomethine ylides, which will be discussed below (Section 11.1.4). 

---