2,3-Dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene

Irradiation of imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (3) – matrix-isolated in argon at 10 K – with a wavelength of 254 nm leads to decarboxylation and the formation of a complex between 2,3-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene and carbon dioxide (1·CO2). Upon irradiation of 2,3-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (1) with λ = 254, 193, and 185 nm no imidazole can be detected. On the other hand flash vacuum pyrolysis of imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (3) produces imidazole and carbon dioxide. 2,3-Dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (1) – the possible intermediate – cannot be trapped under these conditions.