Nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of allenes with N-(thio)phosphoryl imines and acidic methanolysis of adducts N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines: a facile synthesis of free amine 3-pyrrolines

In this report, the dipolarophile imines with easily removable activating group O,O-diethyl(thio)phosphoryl have been investigated in the nucleophilic phosphine-catalyzed 3+2] cycloaddition reaction of electron-deficient allenes. Under the catalysis of a tertiary phosphine, N-(thio)phosphorylimines readily undergo the 3+2] cycloaddition reaction with ethyl 2,3-butadienoate or ethyl 2,3-pentadienoate, affording the corresponding N-(thio)phosphoryl 3-pyrrolines in moderate to high yields with good diastereoselectivity. Removal of the (thio)phosphoryl group from the adducts has been successfully achieved via the acidic methanolysis of the P-N bond, giving the free amine 3-pyrrolines in fair to good yields without severe aromatization. Thus, a facile synthesis of N-unsubstituted 3-pyrrolines is established from the phosphine-catalyzed 3+2] cycloaddition reaction of allenes with imines.