Spontaneous cyclization of (acridin-9-ylmethyl)thioureas to spiro [dihydroacridine-9′(10′H),5-imidazolidine]-2-thiones, a novel type of acridine spirocycles

Novel acridine spirocompounds, spiro[dihydroacridine-9′(10′H),5-imidazolidine]-2-thiones have been prepared by the spontaneous cyclization of 1-substituted 3-(acridin-9-ylmethyl)thioureas, which were obtained from 1-(acridin-9-yl)methanamine, N-(acridin-9-ylmethyl)propan-1-amine, and N-(acridin-9-ylmethyl)benzylamine and alkyl/aryl isothiocyanates, as continuation of our previous studies on new acridine spirocycles. Imidazolidine-2-thiones thus obtained were subsequently transformed with mesitylnitrile oxide to imidazolidine-2-one analogues, some of which partly reopened to the corresponding (acridin-9-ylmethyl)ureas. An unusual spirocyclization via a CH carbanion instead of the N-1 nitrogen has been found for 3-(acridin-9-ylmethyl)-1-(acridin-9-yl)thioureas possessing two acridine rings. Structural modifications in positions 1, 3, and 4 of the spiro ring together with 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography have been employed to rationalize a general propensity of various 9-substituted acridines to undergo easy spirocyclization.