Synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated primary amides from α,β-unsaturated acids and investigation of the mechanism

α,β-Unsaturated acids, through their acid chlorides, react with tritylamine in the presence of triethylamine under mild conditions, to afford in high yield and high regioselectivity the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated tritylamides. Detritylation with TFA generates quantitatively β,γ-unsaturated primary amides. An investigation of this deconjugative isomerization was performed.     

Base-induced rearrangement of tritylamines to imines: discovery and investigation of the mechanism

An unexpected compound, the aniline derived benzophenone imine, was isolated when tritylamine was treated with n-BuLi and alkyl halides, during the formation of N-alkyl tritylamines, in the process of preparing primary amines. A nucleophilic attack of the nitrogen anion of tritylamide on the adjacent C-bonded phenyl, either substituted or not, involving a bridging anionic intermediate, is proposed for this base-induced tritylamine rearrangement to produce the corresponding imine. Electron-withdrawing groups in the aromatic ring, favoring the negative charge development, affect the relative migratory tendencies.     

A convenient method for the preparation of primary amines using tritylamine

A simple method for the preparation of primary amines by treating N-tritylamines with trifluoroacetic acid has been established. The N-tritylamines were prepared by the reaction of alkyl halides or alkyl p-toluenesulfonates with tritylamine, or by the reaction of alkyl bromides with lithium tritylamide.     

An unexpected base-induced rearrangement of tritylamine

An unexpected rearrangement was observed during the treatment of tritylamine with n-butyllithium, leading to the formation of an imine.