Multicomponent Synthesis of Structurally Diverse Imidazoles Featuring Azirines, Amines and Aldehydes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ejoc.201800687

A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of structurally diverse imidazoles through a multicomponent reaction involving an azirine, an amine, and an aldehyde is described. The method is simple and environmentally benign, producing multifunctionalized imidazoles in moderate-to-good yields and in a regioselective manner, which was demonstrated by NMR experiments and X-ray analysis. A mechanism is proposed in which the amine participates not only as a reactant, but also as a nucleophilic reaction promoter.