Regioselective Alkylation of 2-Alkyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-ones and 2-Alkyl-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-ones

Regioselective alkylation of 2-alkyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one (1) and 2-alkyl-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one (2) was investigated. 3-[2′-(1-tert-Butyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-2-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one (6) was preferentially obtained under the conditions by using NaH in DMF or THF. On the other hand, 3-[2′-(1-tert-butyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-2-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-cycloheptimidazol-4-one (5), the synthetic intermediate compound of Pratosartan, was obtained selectively in the presence of n-Bu4NBr in toluene by using aqueous sodium hydroxide as a base. In this reaction, it was found that the concentration of the alkaline solution influences its regioselectivity. This selectivity was observed even for aldehyde and ester derivatives.