Implications of dynamic imine chemistry for the sustainable synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles via transimination followed by intramolecular cyclisation

An exploration of a tandem approach to the sustainable synthesis of N-heterocycles from readily available N-aryl benzylamines or imines and ortho-substituted anilines is described, which demonstrates, for the first time, an important synthetic application of dynamic imine chemistry. The key features to the successful development of this protocol include the utilisation of N-aryl benzylamines as imine precursors in transimination, the occurrence of transimination in acetonitrile in the absence of any catalysts, an intramolecular nucleophilic addition occurring in the newly formed imine causing irreversible transimination, and the tandem event occurring under green conditions.