Synthesis and reactions of some heterocyclic azacyanines

The one-step reaction of some amino-substituted heterocycles with diiodomethane to give azacyanines is reported. This useful reaction is of wider application than initially reported and includes the synthesis of new substituted pyrido-, isoquino-, benzimadazo-, and benzothiazoazacyanines 7. Furthermore, treatment of these azacyanines with base generally affects a facile opening of the dihydrotriazinium ring resulting in the formation of new heterocycles 10, 11, and 12, which would be difficult to prepare by other means. This reaction takes an additional direction in the case of halo-substituted azacyanines 7b/c/d where treatment with base gives rise to new interesting derivatives of dipyridotriazines 14b/c/d.