Preparation of imidazolines from aziridines and nitriles via TfOH promoted Ritter process

[Fe(NCMe)6](BF4)2 is a bifunctional catalyst for styrene aziridination by nitrene transfer and heterocycle expansion by subsequent dipolar insertion

The solvated iron(II) salt [Fe(NCMe)6](BF4)2 (Me = methyl) is shown to be a bifunctional catalyst with respect to aziridination of styrene. The salt serves as an active catalyst for nitrene transfer from PhINTs to styrene to form 2-phenyl-N-tosylaziridine (Ph = phenyl; Ts = tosyl, -S{O}2-p-C6H4Me). The iron(II) salt also acts as a Lewis acid in non-coordinating CH2Cl2 solution, to catalyze heterolytic CN bond cleavage of the aziridine and insertion of dipolarophiles. The 1,3-zwitterionic intermediate is presumably supported by interaction of the metal dication with the anion, and by resonance stabilization of the carbocation. Nucleophilic dipolarophiles then insert to give a five-membered heterocyclic ring. The result is a two-step cycloaddition, formally [2 + 1 + 2], that is typically regiospecific, but not stereospecific. This reaction mechanism was confirmed by conducting a series of one-step, [3 + 2] additions of unsaturated molecules into pre-formed 2-phenyl-N-tosylaziridine, also catalyzed by [Fe(NCMe)6](BF4)2. Relevant substrates include styrenes, carbonyl compounds and alkynes. These yield five-membered heterocylic rings, including pyrrolidines, oxazolidines and dihydropyrroles, respectively. The reaction scope appears limited only by the barrier to formation of the dipolar intermediate, and by the nucleophilicity of the captured dipolarophile. The bifunctionality of an inexpensive, earth-abundant and non-toxic catalyst suggests a general strategy for one-pot construction of heterocyclic rings, as demonstrated specifically for pyrrolidine ring formation.

Synthesis of CF3-Containing 2-Imidazolines and Imidazoles via a Iodide-Promoted [3 + 2] Cyclization Reaction

We report herein a general and effective system achieving cyclization of β-trifluoromethyl enones with amidines in the presence of 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DIH), which affords a range of trifluoromethylated 2-imidazolines in synthetically useful yields with good diastereoselectivities (up to 95% yield, up to 98:2 dr) and good functional group tolerance. Furthermore, the one-pot synthesis of trifluoromethylated imidazoles via sequential cyclization and oxidation is demonstrated. More significantly, the reaction mechanism was verified by ESI-MS studies of possible intermediates, and a reasonable reaction mechanism was proposed.

Imidazoline synthesis: mechanistic investigations show that Fe catalysts promote a new multicomponent redox reaction

Multicomponent reactions are attracting strong interest because they contribute to develop more efficient synthetic chemistry. Understanding their mechanism at the molecular level is thus an important issue to optimize their operation. The development of integrated experimental and theoretical approaches has very recently emerged as most powerful to achieve this goal. In the wake of our recent investigation of amidine synthesis, we used this approach to explore how an Fe-catalyzed aziridination can lead to an imidazoline when run in acetonitrile. We report that the synthesis of imidazoline by combination of styrene, acetonitrile, an iron catalyst and a nitrene precursor occurs along a new kind of multicomponent reaction. The formation of imidazoline results from acetonitrile interception of a benzyl radical styrene aziridination intermediate within Fe coordination sphere, as opposed to classical nucleophilic opening of the aziridine by a Lewis acid. Comparison of this mechanism to that of amidine formation allows a rationalization of the modes of intermediates trapping by acetonitrile according to the oxidation state Fe active species. The molecular understanding of these processes may help to design other multicomponent reactions.

Recent advances of Ritter reaction and its synthetic applications

This review provides a comprehensive survey of Ritter reactions from 2014 to 2020.

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative decyanative cross-coupling of acetonitriles with amines in air: a general access to primary to tertiary amides under mild conditions

C–CN activation catalyzed by Ru/C in open air was achieved, affording an efficient access to primary, secondary and tertiary amides under mild conditions.