New catalytic diamination of alkenes provides a novel access to 1-p-toluenesulfonyl-3-trichloromethyl-4,5-imidazolines

Non-oxidative catalytic diamination reaction of α,β-unsaturated esters and ketones with N,N-dichloro-p-toluenesulfonamide and acetonitrile has been established for the synthesis of 1-p-toluenesulfonyl-3-trichloromethyl-4,5-imidazoline derivatives. Rhodium(II) acetate dimer was found to be superior to rhodium(II) heptafluorobutyrate as the catalyst for this reaction which was carried out at 55°C. Six examples were examined with chemical yields of 57–77%.