Secondary amines from direct nucleophilic substitution

The amide derived from the carboxylic acid in Ugi adducts is in most cases tertiary, and therefore it cannot serve as nucleophilic partner in post-condensation transformations, unless a post-Ugi rearrangement converts it into a free amine [52, 54]. An exception is represented by Ugi adducts derived from ammonia, which give rise to two secondary amides, each of them potentially involved, as nucleophile, in nucleophilic substitution processes. Four competitive pathways are in principle possible (N- or 0-alkylations of the two amides), and the reaction is mainly driven by the stability of the formed rings. In the example shown in Fig. 12, 0-alkylation of the carboxylic-derived amide is favoured as it generates a 5-membered ring (oxazoline 62), while the alternative cyclization modes would have formed 3- or 4-membered rings [49]. When R C02H is phthalic acid, however, acylaziridines are formed instead via Walkylation [49]. In both cases, the intramolecular 8 2 reactions takes place directly under the Ugi conditions. 

There are many instances in which the introduction of amines with specific substitution patterns is desired. With the abundance of structurally diverse commercially available amines from which to choose, the use of these compounds as nucleophiles is extremely valuable. While the example illustrated in Scheme 6.29 focuses on the hydrazine displacement of a secondary tosylate from a furanose sugar derivative [56], this type of reaction is easily achieved with most primary and secondary amines. Where the introduction of direct NH2 groups is desired, the best methods rely on the reduction of azides or nitro groups, or the hydrolysis (hydrazinolysis) of imides [32]. 

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