Nonsolvent Application of Ionic Liquids: Organo-Catalysis by 1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium Cation Based Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids for Chemoselective N-tert-Butyloxycarbonylation of Amines and the Influence of the C-2 Hydrogen on Catalytic Efficiency

1-Alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation based ionic liquids efficiently catalyze N-tert-butyloxycarbonylation of amines with excellent chemoselectivity. The catalytic role of the ionic liquid is envisaged as “electrophilic activation” of di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (Boc2O) through bifurcated hydrogen bond formation with the C-2 hydrogen of the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and has been supported by a downfield shift of the imidazolium C-2 hydrogen of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][NTf2]) from δ 8.39 to 8.66 in the presence of Boc2O in the 1H NMR and a drastic reduction of the catalytic efficiency with 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium ionic liquids that are devoid of the C-2 hydrogen. The differential time required for reaction with aromatic and aliphatic amines has offered means for selective N-t-Boc formation during inter and intramolecular competitions. Preferential N-t-Boc formation with secondary aliphatic amine has been achieved in the presence of primary aliphatic amine. Comparison of the catalytic efficiency for N-t-Boc formation with a common substrate revealed that [bmim][NTf2] is superior to the reported Lewis acid catalysts.