Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.140, No.16, 5560-5568, 2018
Dynamic Covalent Metathesis in the C=C/C=N Exchange between Knoevenagel Compounds and Imines
Fast and reversible dynamic covalent C=C/C=N exchange takes place without catalyst in nonpolar solvents between barbiturate-derived Knoevenagel (Kn) compounds and imines. A detailed study of the reaction indicates that it proceeds by an associative organo-metathesis mechanism involving the formation of a four-membered ring azetidine intermediate by addition of the imine C=N group to the C=C bond of the Kn compound. This intermediate could be generated cleanly and stabilized at low temperature by condensation of the o,p-dinitrophenyl Kn derivative with the cyclic imine 1-azacyclohexene. It was characterized by extensive NMR and mass spectrometric studies. The process described represents a genuine dynamic covalent organo-metathesis through a four-membered ring adduct as intermediate. It paves the way for the exploration of a wide set of dynamic systems involving (strongly) polarized C=C bonds and various imines, extending also into covalent dynamic polymers and polymolecular assemblies.