Azetidines as intermediates in polyamine synthesis – structure and reactions of a quadridentate ligand incorporating an azetidine ring

Abstract

Reaction of the tris(benzene sulfonate) of 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane with neat 1,2-ethanediamine under relatively mild conditions leads to formation in good yield (60%) of a quadridentate amine incorporating a four-membered, azetidine ring, the nature of the tetramine being established by determination of the crystal structures of two of its cobalt(III) complexes and the reactivity of the azetidine ring being explored in further reactions with 1,2-ethanediamine.