Interplay between an elusive 4-(isopropylamino)imidazol-2-ylidene and its isolable mesoionic tautomer, and associated reactivities?

Chemical Communications Pub Date: 2012-01-10 DOI: 10.1039/C2CC17870B

Abstract

An elusive free 4-(isopropylamino)imidazol-2-ylidene is engaged in a tautomeric equilibrium with its mesoionic tautomer, 4-(isopropylamido)imidazolium, which displays the typical reactivity of a cyclic diaminocarbene; once coordinated to a Rh(I) centre, it undergoes a smooth 4e?oxidation of its backbone to yield an amido–amidino-carbene, a weak electron donor viable only in its complexed form.

Graphical abstract: Interplay between an elusive 4-(isopropylamino)imidazol-2-ylidene and its isolable mesoionic tautomer, and associated reactivities
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