2,3-Dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1099-0690(199808)1998:8<1517::AID-EJOC1517>3.0.CO;2-H

Irradiation of imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (3) - matrix-isolated in argon at 10 K - with a wavelength of 254 nm leads to decarboxylation and the formation of a complex between 2,3-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene and carbon dioxide (1·CO₂). Upon irradiation of 2,3-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (1) with λ = 254, 193, and 185 nm no imidazole can be detected. On the other hand flash vacuum pyrolysis of imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (3) produces imidazole and carbon dioxide. 2,3-Dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (1) - the possible intermediate - cannot be trapped under these conditions.