Abstract
The conjugate addition of carbonyl anions catalyzed by thiazolium salts that is fully operative under neutral aqueous conditions has been accomplished. The combination of α-keto carboxylates and thiazolium-derived zwitterions produces reactive carbonyl anions in a buffered protic environment that readily undergo conjugate additions to substituted α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The scope of the reaction has been examined and found to accommodate various α-keto carboxylates and β-aryl substituted unsaturated 2-acyl imidazoles. The optimal precatalyst for this process is the commercially available thiazolium salt 5, a simple analogue of thiamin diphosphate. In this process, no benzoin products from carbonyl anion dimerization are observed. The corresponding 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds can be efficiently converted into esters and amides by way of activation of the N-methylimidazole ring via alkylation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 14675-14680 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of the American Chemical Society |
Volume | 127 |
Issue number | 42 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2005 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Catalysis
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry