Condensation of diacetyl with alkyl amines: Synthesis and reactivity of p-iminobenzoquinones and p-diiminobenzoquinones

Condensation reactions between diacetyl and α-branched primary alkylamines under mild and neutral conditions provided a mixture of 2,5-dimethylbenzoquinone(alkylimines), 2,5-dimethylbenzoquinone(bis-alkyldiimines), and N,N′-dialkyl-2,5-dimethylbenzene-1,4-diamines, which were efficiently separated as pure products by column chromatography. Both 2,5-dimethylbenzoquinone(alkylimines) and 2,5-dimethylbenzoquinone(bis-alkyldiimines) underwent an interchange of the alkylimino group when treated with anilines, followed by reductive aromatization, to provide diarylamines and 1,4-dianilinobenzenes, respectively. Evaluation was also made of the reactivity and selectivity of these compounds in the presence of anilines, thiophenols and alkylhalides.