| Abstract: | Alkoxyallenes ( 1 ) are found to catalyze cyclotrimerization of aryl isocyanates ( 2 ) in dimethylformamide (DMF) to afford 1,3,5-triaryl-s-triazine-2,4,6-trione ( 3 : cyclic trimer of 2 ), although the reaction of 1 with 2 in bulk gave the corresponding copolymer. In order to speculate about the mechanism of the cyclotrimerization, macrozwitterion 4 , was prepared by copolymerization of 1 and 2 in bulk, and the catalytic activity of 4 was further studied. Cyclotrimerization of 2 was promoted by 4 and quenching of 4 with methanol completely destroyed the catalytic activity. Consequently, the alkoxyallene-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of 2 is assumed to take place through a zwitterion generated from 1 and 2 . |
