A novel electrophilic diamination reaction of alkenes

Abstract

A three-component electrophilic reaction transforms olefins into imidazoline and diamine derivatives (see scheme). Rhodium(II) heptafluorobutyrate dimer (2 mol%) was utilized as the catalyst and N,N-dichloro-p-toluenesulfonamide (TsNCl2) and acetonitrile as the nitrogen sources. Modest to good yields (45-82%) and high regio- and stereoselectivity were achieved.