title: Synthesis of electronically diverse tetraarylimidazolylidene carbenes via catalytic aldimine coupling.
abstract: A new method for synthesizing symmetrical N-heterocyclic imidazolium salts is described. Catalytic coupling of aldimines with cyanide followed by oxidation gives alpha-diketimines, which can then be cyclized with formaldehyde in acidic media. This two-step procedure requires no chromatography and allows the synthesis of electronically diverse 1,3,4,5-tetraarylimidazolylidene carbenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3255, USA.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ogle
authors.forename: Jubo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Joseph H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Reibenspies
authors.forename: Khalil A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Miller