Nitrilium
A nitrilium ion is a nitrile that has been protonated, [RCNH] , or alkylated, [RCNR′] .[1]
Synthesis
[edit]Nitriles are only weakly basic[2] and are poor nucleophiles, but they will attack very reactive electrophiles such as carbocations.[3]
Nitrilium salts can be prepared by reacting nitriles with trialkyloxonium salts. The nitrilium ions thus formed can then be reduced to secondary amines with sodium borohydride in diglyme. This is a convenient route to secondary amines of the form RCH2—NH—R′.[4]
As intermediates
[edit]Nitrilium ions are believed to be intermediates in the hydrolysis of nitriles,[5] the Beckmann rearrangement, the Friedel-Crafts cyclization of amines to isoquinolines,[6] the Schmidt reaction with ketones,[7] and the Ugi, Ritter, Pinner and Passerini reactions.
References
[edit]- ^ IUPAC Gold Book: nitrilium ions
- ^ Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
- ^ Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
- ^ March, J.; Smith, M. (2007). Advanced Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 1814. ISBN 978-0-471-72091-1.
- ^ Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
- ^ March, J.; Smith, M. (2007). Advanced Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 716. ISBN 978-0-471-72091-1.
- ^ March, J.; Smith, M. (2007). Advanced Organic Chemistry (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 1613. ISBN 978-0-471-72091-1.
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