Unusual Acid-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Two α,α′-Diimino-oximes

2-[2-(Alkylimino)-2-phenylethylidene]pyrrolidines (vinamidines, 3 – 6 ) were obtained either via activation of the corresponding vinologous amide 1 with Meerwein salt and subsequent treatment of the intermediate 2 with an amine, or more directly by acid-catalyzed condensation of the Schiff bases derived from acetophenone with 2-ethoxy-1-pyrroline. Nitrosation of these vinamidines led to α,α′-diimino-oximes. In two cases ( 10 , 11 ), these oximes underwent acid-catalyzed rearrangement with formation of a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring system ( 12 , 13 ). X-Ray analysis of one of these products ( 13 ) and also of one of the vinamidine salts ( 6 ) are presented.