A novel reductive cyclization of arylmethylidenemalononitrile promoted by samarium diiodide
Abstract
The intermolecular and intramolecular reductive coupling reactions of arylmethylidenemalononitriles induced by SmI2 have been studied. The configuration of the cyclodimerization products, 4,5-trans-isomers of 2-amino-1,3,3-tricyano-4,5-diarylcyclopentenes, has been confirmed by X-ray analysis and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed.