Dual Role of Pyrrolidine and Cooperative Pyrrolidine/Pyrrolidinium Effect in Nitrone Formation

Abstract

The formation of nitrones by direct condensation between equimolecular amounts of N-substituted hydroxylamine hydrochlorides and aromatic or aliphatic aldehydes is efficiently promoted by pyrrolidine in a matter of minutes under very mild conditions in almost quantitative yields after a simple filtration through a short pad of silica gel. According to theoretical, spectroscopic, and experimental studies, this success is due to the ability of pyrrolidine to liberate the hydrochloride of the hydroxylamine and catalyze the reaction via iminium activation ion. Moreover, a cooperative pyrrolidine/pyrrolidinium chloride effect facilitates several steps of the catalytic cycle through proton transfer without hampering the nucleophilicity of the hydroxylamine by protonation.