A novel entry toward 2-imino-1,3-thiazolidines and 2-imino-1,3-thiazolines by ring transformation of 2-(thiocyanomethyl)aziridines

A new, efficient, and straightforward synthesis of 3-arylmethyl-4-chloromethyl-2-imino-1,3-thiazolidines and 2-(N-acylimino)-3-arylmethyl-4-chloromethyl-1,3-thiazolidines has been developed by ring transformation of 1-arylmethyl-2-(thiocyanomethyl)aziridines upon treatment with a catalytic amount of titanium(IV) chloride in dichloromethane. The latter 2-(thiocyanomethyl)aziridines were prepared in high yields from 1-arylmethyl-2-(bromomethyl)aziridines by reaction with potassium thiocyanate in DMF. The 2-imino-1,3-thiazolidines and 2-(N-acylimino)-1,3-thiazolidines thus obtained can be easily interconverted, either by treatment with an acid chloride and a base in ether toward 2-(N-acylimino)thiazolidines or by treatment with potassium carbonate in methanol toward N-deprotected 2-iminothiazolidines. Dehydrohalogenation of 2-(N-acylimino)-3-arylmethyl-4-chloromethyl-1,3-thiazolidines by means of potassium tert-butoxide in DMSO afforded 2-(N-acylimino)-4-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-thiazolines in good yields.