Tandem Coupling of Azide with Isonitrile and Boronic Acid: Facile Access to Functionalized Amidines

Amidine is a notable nitrogen-containing structural motif found in bioactive natural products and pharmaceuticals. Herein, a novel rhodium(I)-catalyzed tandem reaction of readily accessible azides with isonitriles and boronic acids via a carbodiimide intermediate is achieved. This protocol offers an alternative approach toward N-sulfonyl-, N-acyl-, and N-phosphoryl-functionalized, as well as general N-aryl and N-alkyl amidines with broad substrate scope. In addition, functionalized guanidines can also been synthesized when amines are used instead. The accomplishment of estrone-derived amidine and glibenclamide bioisosteres further reveals the practical utility of this strategy.