Synthesis of Polysubstituted 2‑Aminoimidazoles via Alkene-Diamination of Guanidine with Conjugated α‑Bromoalkenones

A step-economical access to polysubstituted aminoimidazoles has been accomplished via alkene vicinal C–N bonds formation of 2-bromo-2-alkenones with guanidine avoiding its NH-protection/derivatization prerequisite for electronic modulation. The approach has excellent substrate scope, is amenable to diverse guanidine-containing substrates, and introduces distinctive substitutions/functionalities into aminoimidazole core. It is also applicable to preparation of fused-imidazoles. The reaction involves a tandem pathway of aza-Michael addition, SN2, and a unique redox-neutral process, as evident by spectroscopic study and control experiments.