Accessing Biologically Important Imines and Nitrogen Heterocycles Using an Organocatalyst

Nitrogen-containing heterocycles play a prominent role in a variety of biological systems and drug-like molecules. Imines play an important role in the formation of these heterocycles and commercially available starting materials include alcohols and amines and a direct oxidative transformation to form imines is highly valuable. Bobbitt salt, a bench-stable and environmentally benign oxidant, can be employed to access imines in a one-pot oxidation. Our developed method affords moderate to high yields of the desired imine product and can be further functionalized to highly valuable nitrogen heterocycles. Optimized reaction conditions allow for an environmentally safe and cost effective method to accomplish this transformation.