Halogen-containing heteroaromatic carbenes of the 1,2,4-triazole series and their transformations

A series of new stable halogenated carbenes, 1-tert-butyl-3,4-diaryl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidenes, has been synthesized. According to quantum chemical calculations, 4-(2,3,4-trifluorophenyl)-substituted 1-tert-butyl-3,4-diaryl-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene is the least basic in comparison with the known sterically open stable heteroaromatic carbenes. Upon heating in organic solvents these carbenes undergo a tandem induced reaction thereby forming 5-amidino-1,2,4-triazoles. The interaction of carbenes with benzylidenemalononitrile, propanesultone and phenyl isothiocyanate results in zwitterionic compounds of the 1,2,4-triazole series. The data for X-ray diffraction study of 1-tert-butyl-3-phenyl-4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene, its protonated salt, complex with copper(i) iodide, related complex of 1-tert-butyl-3-phenyl-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene, and adduct of 1-tert-butyl-3-phenyl-4-(4-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene and propansultone are given.