A Novel [2 + 3] Cycloaddition Reaction: Singlet Oxygen Mediated Formation of 1,3-Dipole from Iminodiacetic Acid Dimethyl Ester and Its Addition to Maleimides

Abstract

Sensitized photolysis of iminodiacetic acid methyl ester and maleimides follows a [2 + 3] cycloaddition pathway yielding pyrrolidine derivatives. This is similar to the photochemical reaction between C(60) and amines. A series of pyrrolidine derivatives are prepared by the method including multipyrrolidines from bis- and tris-maleimide starting materials. The yields range from 13% to 85%. The reaction is highly stereoselective. All the isolated products have the 1,3-dimethoxycarbonyl groups in the cis configuration. Various sensitizers may be used with slightly different yields. A plausible mechanism is proposed that involves the singlet oxygen abstraction of two alpha hydrogen atoms from the iminodiacetate and formation of a 1,3-dipole with a structure similar to the classical thermally generated 1,3-dipole.