Synthesis of alkyl 2-benzoylamino-3-(4,5-dicyano-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propenoates

Abstract

A simple synthetic approach to imidazolyl-substituted unsaturated amino acid esters 2 starting from the diaminomaleonitrile derivative 5 is reported. This synthesis involves the formation of the imidazole ring with triethyl orthoformate followed by an oxazolone ring-opening reaction with alcohols.