Ring-Transformation von Imidazolidin–2,4-dionen ( = Hydantoinen) zu 4H-Imidazolen bei der Umsetzung mit 3-(Dimethylamino)-2,2-dimethyl-2H -azirin

Ring Transformation of Imidazolidine-2,4-diones ( = Hydantoins) to 4H-Imidazoles in the Reaction with 3-(Dimethylamino)-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirines At ca. 70°, 3-(dimethylamino)-2,2-dimethyl-2H -azirine ( 1 ) and 5,5-disubstituted hydantoins 4 in MeCN or i-PrOH give 2-(1-aminoalkyl)-5-(dimethylamino)-4,4-dimethyl-4H -imidazoles 5 in good yield (Scheme 2). These products are decarboxylated 1:1 adducts of 1 and 4 . A reaction mechanism is suggested in analogy to the previously reported reactions of 1 and NH-acidic heterocycles containing the CO? NH? CO? NH moiety (Scheme 5). The formation of ureas 6 and 7 can be rationalized by trapping the intermediate isocyanate F by an amine. No reaction is observed between 1 and 1,5,5- or 3,5,5-trisubstituted hydantoins in refluxing MeCN or i-PrOH, but an N-isopropylation of 1,5,5-trimethylhydantoin ( 8b ) occurs in the presence of morpholine (Scheme 3). The reaction of the bis(azirine)dibromozink complex 11 and hydantoines 4 in refluxing MeCN yields zink complexes 12 of the corresponding 2-(1-aminoalkyl)-4H -imidazoles 5 (Scheme 4).