Synthesis 2013; 45(17): 2405-2412
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1338499
paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Expedient Base-Mediated Desulfitative Dimethylamination, Oxidation, or Etherification of 2-(Methylsulfanyl)-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one Scaffolds

Shahnawaz Khan
a   Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India   Email: premsc58@hotmail.com   Email: prem_chauhan_2000@yahoo.com   Fax: +91(522)2623405
,
Vikas Tyagi
a   Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India   Email: premsc58@hotmail.com   Email: prem_chauhan_2000@yahoo.com   Fax: +91(522)2623405
,
Rohit Mahar
b   Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India
,
Vikas Bajpai
b   Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India
,
Brijesh Kumar
b   Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India
,
Prem M. S. Chauhan*
a   Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226 001, India   Email: premsc58@hotmail.com   Email: prem_chauhan_2000@yahoo.com   Fax: +91(522)2623405
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 30 January 2013

Accepted after revision: 03 June 2013

Publication Date:
11 July 2013 (online)


Abstract

The dimethylamino functionality is generally introduced onto the 3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one skeleton by treatment of a halogenated derivative with low-boiling dimethylamine at a high temperature and pressure. The corresponding aliphatic ethers are usually prepared by Williamson ether synthesis, but the available transition-metal-catalyzed methods require highly toxic reagents (such as dimethyl sulfate or methyl halides) and expensive metal catalysts, and they entail harsh reaction conditions and complex workups. A simple and efficient method is described for base-mediated­ desulfitative dimethylamination, oxidation, or etherification at the C2-position of the 2-(methylsulfanyl)-3,5-dihydro-4H-imidazol-4-one scaffold by using potassium carbonate and aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide or an aliphatic alcohol.

Supporting Information