Abstract
Diverse nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds can be synthesised by the N-acylation
of imines using functionalised carboxylic acids (Direct Imine Acylation, DIA). The
carboxylic acids are activated in situ using the coupling agent propylphosphonic acid
anhydride (T3P), before reacting with the imine coupling partner to generate N-acyliminium ions in situ, that can then be trapped by oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulfur-
or carbon-based nucleophiles built into the carboxylic acid. This versatile, convergent
method has been used to generate a wide range of products, including aromatic and
aliphatic heterocycles, β-lactams, azaspirocycles and natural products.
1 Introduction
2 DIA in the Total Synthesis of ‘Upenamide
3 DIA with Benzoic Acid Derivatives
4 DIA with Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids
5 DIA in the Synthesis of β-Lactams
6 DIA in the Synthesis of Azaspirocycles
7 Mechanistic Studies
8 Conclusion
Key words
N-heterocycles - spirocycles - natural products -
N-acyliminium ions - ‘upenamide - evodiamine - cavidine