Diastereoselective Synthesis of Meso‐1,2‐Diarylethane‐1,2‐Diamines Via Sodium Reduction of Imidazolines

Abstract

A facile method for the preparation of meso‐1,2‐diarylethane‐1,2‐diamines from aromatic aldehydes is disclosed. The stereoselectivity of the protocol is based on the disrotatory electrocyclic ring closure of readily generated diazapentadienes, followed by a SET reduction of the imidazoline fragment by sodium. The method is readily scalable to multi‐gram quantities and a wide range of alkoxy and alkyl‐phenyl substituents can be synthesised.