Transalkylation and Transphenylation of Quaternary Pyridinium Salts: Conversion of Primary Amines Into bis-Homologous Acids

Abstract

Alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl amines are converted into pentacyclic pyridinium trifluoromethanesulphonates 3 in good yield. The latter, when reacted with cyano-ethylacetate or diethylma-lonate give the substituted esters 4 and 5, which are hydrolysed to substituted acetic acids. Thus the conversion of primary amines into bis-homologous acids is realised.