E.L. Cropper et al. / Tetrahedron 65 (2009) 525–530
529
ArCH2CH2), 29.9 (1C, ArCH2CH2), 33.2 (1C, CH2CO), 51.2 (1C, PhCH2),
122.7 (1C, ArC), 126.3 (1C, ArC), 127.2 (1C, ArC), 127.4 (1C, ArC),
128.0 (2C, ArC), 128.4 (2C, ArC), 129.3 (1C, ArC), 135.8 (1C, ArC),
137.9 (1C, ArC), 142.5 (1C, ArC), 173.2 (1C, CO); m/z (EI) 251 (Mþ,
87%), 196 (43), 132 (63), 91 (100).
was warmed up to room temperature and stirred overnight. The
resultant white precipitate was removed by filtration, and the fil-
trate was washed with 1 M aq HCl (15 mL), brine (15 mL), dried
(Na2SO4) and evaporated. The residue was purified by column
chromatography, to furnish 6 as a white solid. Yield: 1.66 g, 64%.
Found: C, 65.21; H, 5.43; N, 6.60%. Calcd for C23H23BrN2O: C, 65.25;
H, 5.48; N, 6.62%. nmax (thin film)/cmꢁ1 3374 (NH); dH (400 MHz,
CDCl3) 2.55 (2H, t, J 6.5, CH2CO), 3.58 (2H, t, J 6.5, CH2CH2CO), 4.74
(1H, br s, NH), 5.97 (1H, br s, NH), 6.59–6.61 (1H, t, J 7.6, ArH), 6.68–
6.71 (1H, d, J 8.0, ArH), 7.18–7.22 (1H, m, ArH), 7.27–7.37 (7H, m,
ArH), 7.45 (1H, d, J 7.6, ArH); dC (400 MHz, CDCl3) 35.8 (1C, CH2CO),
39.983 (1C, NHCH2Ph), 43.7 (1C, CH2CH2CO), 110.2 (1C, ArC), 111.4
(1C, ArC), 118.2 (1C, ArC), 127.6 (1C, ArC), 127.8 (1C, ArC), 128.5 (2C,
ArC), 128.8 (2C, ArC), 132.6 (1C, ArC), 137.9 (1C, ArC), 144.5 (1C, ArC),
170.9 (1C, CO); m/z (CI) 335/333 (MHþ, 100%).
4.1.3.2. Ethyl 3-(2-bromophenylamino)propionate (5a). A mixture
of 2-bromoaniline (2.2 mL, 20 mmol, 1 equiv), ethyl acrylate
(2.4 mL, 22 mmol, 1.1 equiv) and concd HCl (2 mL) in ethanol
(15 mL) was heated under reflux for 48 h. The solvent was evapo-
rated and the residue was made basic by the addition of 28% aq
NH3. This was then extracted with CH2Cl2, and the combined or-
ganic fractions were washed with H2O, dried (Na2SO4) and con-
centrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography, to
give product 5a as a yellow oil. Yield: 3.3 g, 61%. Found: C, 48.56; H,
5.14; N, 5.04%. Calcd for C11H14BrNO2: C, 48.55; H, 5.19; N, 5.15%.
Rf¼0.36, petroleum ether 40–60/EtOAc (3/1); dH (400 MHz, CDCl3)
1.28 (3H, t, J 7.2, OCH2CH3), 2.65 (2H, t, J 6.5, CH2CO2Et), 3.50 (2H, q,
J 6.5, CH2CH2CO2Et), 4.17 (2H, q, J 7.2, OCH2CH3), 4.70 (1H, br s, NH),
6.58 (1H, td, J 2.0, 7.1, ArH), 6.65 (1H, dd, J 2.0, 8.0, ArH), 7.18 (1H, t,
J 7.1, ArH), 7.41 (1H, dd, J 2.0, 8.0, ArH); dC (100.6 MHz, CDCl3) 14.3
(1C, OCH2CH3), 33.9 (1C, CH2CO2Et), 39.4 (1C, CH2CH2CO2Et), 60.8
(1C, OCH2CH3), 110.1 (1C, ArC), 111.2 (1C, ArC), 118.1 (1C, ArC), 128.5
(1C, ArC), 132.6 (1C, ArC), 144.5 (1C, ArC), 172.1 (1C, CO), m/z (CI)
274/272 (MHþ, 100%).
4.1.3.5. 1,5-Dibenzyl-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-one
(7). This was obtained from 6 (150 mg, 0.35 mmol) by employing
the catalytic procedure described before (condition A), using P(t-
Bu)3 as ligand. The heterocycle was obtained as a viscous colourless
oil. Yield: 95 mg, 79%. Found: C, 80.65; H, 6.45; N, 8.15%. Calcd for
C23H22N2O: C, 80.67; H, 6.48; N, 8.18%. Rf¼0.34, cyclohexane/EtOAc
(4/1); nmax (KBr)/cmꢁ1 1665 (CO); dH (400 MHz, CDCl3, 298 K) 2.49
(2H, br s, NCH2CH2), 3.32 (2H, br s, NCH2), 4.14 (2H, br s, CH2Ph),
5.08 (2H, br s, CH2Ph), 7.02–7.33 (14H, m, ArH); dC (100.6 MHz,
CDCl3, 298 K) 34.2 (1C, NCH2CH2), 51.3 (1C, NCH2), 56.3 (1C, CH2Ph),
57.7 (1C, CH2Ph), 120.8 (1C, ArC), 123.1 (1C, ArC), 123.3 (1C, ArC),
126.9 (1C, ArC), 127.2 (1C, ArC), 127.9 (1C, ArC), 128.3 (1C, ArC),
128.4 (1C, ArC), 137.7 (2C, ArC), 143.8 (1C, ArC), 172.4 (1C, CO); m/z
(CI) 343 (MHþ, 100%).
4.1.3.3. Ethyl 3-(N-benzyl-N-(2-bromophenyl)amino)propionate
(5b). A mixture of 5a (1.0 g, 3.67 mmol, 1 equiv), benzyl bromide
(5 equiv) and K2CO3 (1.5 g, 11.0 mmol, 3 equiv) was refluxed in
CH3CN (10 mL) for 48 h. The solvent was evaporated, and the res-
idue extracted with ether. The organic layer was washed with H2O,
dried (MgSO4), concentrated, and purified by column chromatog-
raphy to give 5b as a colourless oil. Yield: 960 mg, 72%. Found: C,
59.65; H, 5.54; N, 3.89%. Calcd for C18H20BrNO2: C, 59.68; H, 5.56; N,
3.87%. Rf¼0.48, cyclohexane/EtOAc (4/1); dH (400 MHz, CDCl3) 1.20
(3H, t, J 7.4, OCH2CH3), 2.45 (2H, t, J 6.2, CH2CO2Et), 3.38 (2H, t, J 6.2,
CH2CH2CO2Et), 4.06 (2H, q, J 7.4, OCH2CH3), 4.22 (2H, s, CH2Ph), 6.96
(1H, td, J 2.4, 6.3, ArH), 7.09 (1H, dd, J 2.0, 8.0, ArH), 7.22–7.38 (6H,
m, ArH), 7.61 (1H, dd, J 1.5, 8.0, ArH); dC (100.6 MHz, CDCl3) 14.1 (1C,
OCH2CH3), 32.4 (1C, CH2CO2Et), 47.4 (1C, CH2CH2CO2Et), 58.4 (1C,
CH2Ph), 60.4 (1C, OCH2CH3), 122.3 (1C, ArC), 124.6 (1C, ArC), 125.3
(1C, ArC), 127.2 (2C, ArC), 127.8 (2C, ArC), 128.2 (1C, ArC), 128.6 (1C,
ArC), 133.9 (1C, ArC), 137.9 (1C, ArC), 148.4 (1C, ArC), 172.3 (1C, CO);
m/z (CI) 364/362 (MHþ, 100%).
4.1.3.6. 5-(2-Bromophenyl)-4-oxo-pentanoic acid (9). A three-necked
round-bottomed flask equipped with a reflux condenser and drop-
ping funnel was charged with dried Mg turnings (1.0 g, 41.1 mmol,
1.5 equiv), which were activated by stirring overnight under a dry N2
atmosphere. 2-Bromobenzyl bromide (10.3 g, 41.1 mmol, 1.5 equiv)
was added dropwise as a solution in anhydrous Et2O (90 mL) over 1 h,
during which a gentle reflux was established and maintained. Fol-
lowing the addition, the reaction mixture was heated at reflux for 3 h
then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. In a separate flask,
a solution of succinic anhydride (2.74 g, 27 mmol, 1.0 equiv) was dis-
solved in anhydrous THF (160 mL) and cooled to ꢁ78 ꢀC, before the
addition of the Grignard reagent slowly via cannula. The reaction
mixture was stirred at ꢁ78 ꢀC for 3.5 h, then quenched by the addition
of H2O (30 mL) and 2 M aq HCl (70 mL). The layers were separated,
and the aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc. Finally, the com-
bined organic layers were dried (MgSO4) and concentrated in vacuo to
give a yellow solid, which was then subjected to column chroma-
tography to give 9 as a white solid. Yield: 4.9 g, 66%. Found: C, 48.66;
H, 4.06%. Calcd for C11H11BrO3: C, 48.74; H, 4.09%. Rf¼0.23, CH2Cl2/
EtOAc (4/1); mp 88–89 ꢀC; nmax (KBr)/cmꢁ1 2854 (OH),1713 (CO),1693
(CO2H); dH (270 MHz, CDCl3) 2.68 (2H, t, J 6.0, CH2CO2H), 2.83 (2H, t,
J 6.0, CH2CH2CO2H), 3.93 (2H, s, ArCH2), 7.17 (1H, t, J 8.0, ArH), 7.24–
7.33 (2H, m, ArH), 7.59 (1H, dd, J 1.0, 8.0, ArH); dC (100.6 MHz, CDCl3)
27.7 (1C, CH2CO2H), 36.7 (1C, CH2CH2CO2H), 49.9 (1C, ArCH2), 125.0
(1C, ArC), 127.7 (1C, ArC), 129.0 (1C, ArC), 131.8 (1C, ArC), 132.9 (1C,
ArC),134.4 (1C, ArC),177.9 (1C, CO2H), 205.0 (1C, CO); m/z (CI) 290/288
([MþNH4]þ, 97/100).
4.1.3.4. 3-(N-Benzyl-N-(2-bromophenyl)amino)-N-benzyl-propan-
amide (6). The ester 5b was hydrolysed by refluxing in methanol
(20 mL) with NaOH (5 equiv) for 12 h. After cooling to ambient
temperature, methanol was evaporated and the residue was acid-
ified by the addition of 1 M aq HCl, before it was extracted with
Et2O, washed (H2O), dried (MgSO4) and evaporated to yield the
carboxylic acid as a colourless oil (76%). It was used directly in the
next step without further purification. Rf¼0.45, EtOAc/petroleum
ether (1/1); dH (400 MHz, CDCl3) 2.49 (2H, t, J 6.4, CH2CO2H), 3.35
(2H, t, J 6.5, CH2CH2CO2H), 4.22 (2H, s, CH2Ph), 7.00–7.08 (2H, m,
ArH), 7.25–7.34 (6H, m, ArH), 7.65 (1H, dd, J 1.5, 8.0, ArH); dC
(100.6 MHz, CDCl3) 31.8 (1C, CH2CO2H), 46.8 (1C, CH2CH2CO2H),
59.0 (1C, CH2Ph), 122.2 (1C, ArC), 124.5 (1C, ArC), 126.1 (1C, ArC),
127.6 (1C, ArC), 128.0 (2C, ArC), 128.3 (2C, ArC), 129.0 (1C, ArC),
134.2 (1C, ArC), 136.8 (1C, ArC), 147.2 (1C, ArC), 176.8 (1C, CO); m/z
(CI) 336/334 (MHþ, 100%).
4.1.3.7. 5-(2-Bromophenyl)-4-oxo-pentanoic acid benzylamide (10). A
solution of 9 (2.0 g, 6.92 mmol, 1.0 equiv) and 1-hydroxybenzo-
triazole monohydrate (1.14 g, 6.92 mmol, 1.0 equiv) in dry CH2Cl2
(35 mL) was cooled to 0 ꢀC. Benzylamine (7.61 mmol, 1.1 equiv) and
DCC (1.43 g, 6.92 mmol, 1.0 equiv) were added sequentially as so-
lutions in CH2Cl2 (10 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at 0 ꢀC
for 2 h, then warmed to room temperature and stirred for a further
The carboxylic acid (2.05 g, 6.12 mmol, 1 equiv) was dissolved in
dry CH2Cl2 (30 mL) and cooled to 0 ꢀC, whereupon benzylamine
(0.67 mL, 6.12 mmol, 1 equiv), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole mono-
hydrate (0.83 g, 6.12 mmol, 1 equiv), and DCC (1.26 g, 6.12 mmol,
1 equiv) were added sequentially. After 1 h, the reaction mixture