Base-controlled copper-catalyzed multi-component cascade reactions of cyanamides, diaryliodonium triflates and propargylamine for rapid assembly of polysubstituted 2-aminoimidazoles and 2-iminoimidazoles

Abstract

Copper-catalyzed three-component and four-component cascade reactions of cyanamides, dirayliodonium triflates, and propargylamine were established for the rapid construction of polysubstituted 2-aminoimidazoles and 2-iminoimidazoles using K₂CO₃ and pyridine as the base, respectively. Each reaction step was efficiently accelerated by copper, and 3–4 C–N bonds were constructed with excellent regioselectivities and good yields.