A [2 + 2] cycloaddition route to dimethylaminomethylene vinamidinium salts
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Preparation of N-(2-alkoxyvinyl)sulfonamides from N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles and Subsequent Conversion to Substituted Phthalans and Phenethylamines
Published on: January 3, 2018
Ian W Davies1, David M Tellers, C Scott Shultz
1Department of Process Research and the Reaction Engineering Laboratory of Chemical Engineering R&D, Merck & Co., Inc., P.O. Box 2000, Rahway, New Jersey 07065-0900, USA. ian_davies1@merck.com
Abstract:
[reaction: see text] Trifluoropropanoic acid reacts with 1 equiv of POCl3 in DMF to generate the trifluoromethyl enamine (7). At this stage, two reaction manifolds are available. The expected reaction with additional POCl3 generates the 2-trifluoromethyl vinamidinium salt (3c). However, thermally driven loss of fluoride generates an iminium ion, which sets the stage for a [2 + 2] cycloaddition to ultimately generate the dimethylaminomethylene vinamidinium salt (1).
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