Transformation Routes of P V ‐ and P III ‐ N ‐Substituted Acyclic Diaminocarbenes

Herein we report on the synthesis of a set of transient N ‐(P III )‐phosphanyl and N ‐(P V )‐phosphoroselenoyl acyclic diaminocarbenes by deprotonation of the corresponding formamidinium salts. It is shown that N ‐(P V )‐substituted acyclic diaminocarbenes undergo 1,2‐phosphorus shift. Transformations of N ‐(P III )‐substituted acyclic diaminocarbenes result in tetrahydroquinazolines as final products. The proposed mechanism includes the isomerization of the carbenes into transient azomethine ylides followed by their cyclization via electrophilic aromatic substitution. Introduction of the electron‐donating dimetylamino group into the phenyl substituent markedly enhances the rate of the reaction and the yield of the final product. In the case of the morpholine derivative, the corresponding azomethine ylide undergoes opening the morpholine ring giving vinyloxazolidin‐2‐amine. The results are corroborated by DFT calculations.