Issue 11, 1999

The synthesis of alkyl aryl nitriles from N-(1-arylalkylidene)cyanomethyl amines: some mechanistic conclusions

Abstract

A mechanistic investigation of the rearrangement of N-(1-arylalkylidene)cyanomethylamines [1, ArC([double bond, length half m-dash]NCH2CN)R; R = alkyl, aryl] to alkyl aryl nitriles [2, ArCH(R)CN] in refluxing DMF in the presence of a base is reported.

Under these conditions, p-phenyl substituted N-(1-arylethylidene)cyanomethylamines (Ar = p-BrC6H4, p-ClC6H4, p-CH3C6H4 and p-CH3OC6H4; R = CH3) follow the Hammett linear free-energy relationship, with a large positive ρ value (1.86), implying that electron-withdrawing substituents enhance the reaction rate by an initial deprotonation step. However, C-alkylated imines [Ph2C[double bond, length half m-dash]NCH(R′)CN; R′ = Me, n-Bu] do not yield the corresponding nitriles [Ph2C(R′)CN], indicating the need for both methylene protons in order for the reaction to begin.

Different mechanistic pathways are then discussed. A base-catalysed imine double bond isomerisation, considered plausible, is excluded, since N-alkylformimidoyl cyanides [ArCH(N[double bond, length half m-dash]CHCN)R] interconvert quantitatively to imines 1 prior to the formation of nitriles 2. The photochemical activation of the reaction is also ruled out. The results of isotope labelling experiments, using 13C- and 15N-labelled N-(1-phenylethylidene)cyanomethylamines [PhC([double bond, length half m-dash]NCH213CN)CH3 and PhC([double bond, length half m-dash]15NCH2CN)CH3] are consistent with a mechanism based upon an intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction, since the cyano groups of the products 2 appear to come in preference from the methylene-iminic fragment ([double bond, length half m-dash]NCH2–) of the reagents.

The mechanism is proposed to proceed via an intermediate three-membered nitrogen heterocycle, generated by a nucleophilic intramolecular attack, which eliminates cyanide to afford the product nitrile.

Article information

Article type
Paper

J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1999, 2485-2492

The synthesis of alkyl aryl nitriles from N-(1-arylalkylidene)cyanomethyl amines: some mechanistic conclusions

A. Perosa, M. Selva and P. Tundo, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, 1999, 2485 DOI: 10.1039/A905563K

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