Reaction of the imine with
TosMIC in the presence of potassium carbonate leads to what may be viewed as 2+3
cycloaddition of the nitrogen analogue of a
ketene to form the
imidazole ring.
^Almansa, Carmen; Alfón, José; de Arriba, Alberto F.; Cavalcanti, Fernando L.; Escamilla, Ignasi; Gómez, Luis A.; Miralles, Agustí; Soliva, Robert; Bartrolí, Javier; Carceller, Elena; Merlos, Manuel; García-Rafanell, Julián (2003). "Synthesis and Structure−Activity Relationship of a New Series of COX-2 Selective Inhibitors: 1,5-Diarylimidazoles". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 46 (16): 3463–3475.
doi:
10.1021/jm030765s.
ISSN0022-2623.
PMID12877584.