One-step synthesis of imidazoles from Asmic (anisylsulfanylmethyl isocyanide)

• Louis G. Mueller,
• Allen Chao,
• Embarek AlWedi and
• Fraser F. Fleming

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2021, 17, 1499–1502, doi:10.3762/bjoc.17.106

• Substituted imidazoles are readily prepared by condensing the versatile isocyanide Asmic, anisylsulfanylmethylisocyanide, with nitrogenous π-electrophiles. Deprotonating Asmic with lithium hexamethyldisilazide effectively generates a potent nucleophile that efficiently intercepts nitrile and imine

• a valuable route to mono- and disubstituted imidazoles. Keywords: Asmic; cyclization; imidazoles; isocyanides; nitriles; Introduction The imidazole core is the seventh most prevalent heterocycle among nitrogen-containing pharmaceuticals [1]. The privileged efficacy of imidazoles emanates from the

• contain an adjacent electron withdrawing group (1, R1 = EWG) [13]. Installation of an electron withdrawing group adjacent to an isocyanide facilitates the deprotonation but creates weak nucleophiles 2 that are insufficiently nucleophilic to react with nitriles [14]. Described below is the use of Asmic