Reactivity of α-chloro-aldimines

A series of secondary N-1-(2-chloroalkylidene)amines has been prepared by condensation of disubstituted acetaldehydes with primary amines followed by chlorination with N-chlorosuccinimide in carbontetrachloride. A study of the reactivity of these N-homologues of α-chloroaldehydes is described. Treatment of the title compounds with sodium methoxide in methanol gave high yields of α,β-unsaturated aldimines. However, N-1-(2-chloro-2-methylpropylidene)amines afforded a mixture of elimination and rearrangement products, which proceeded via an aziridine intermediate. On the other hand, α-phenyl-substituted α-chloro aldimines on treatment with methoxide in methanol underwent α-substitution, consistent with an S_N1 mechanism. Powerful nucleophiles such as sodium thiophenolate in methanol and sodium azide in acetone caused α-substitution. Reaction of α-chloro aldimines with Grignard reagents produced coupling of two aldimine units or α-alkylation. Finally the reactivity of α-chloro aldimines was compared with the reactivity of the corresponding oxygen-analogues, i.e. α-chloro aldehydes.