Branched 2-amino-1,3-dicyanocyclopenta-1,3-diene
Abstract Reaction of 2-chloroisobutyrophenonewith two equivalents of malononitrile anion furnishes 2-amino-1,3-dicyano-5,5-dimethyl-4-phenylcyclopenta-1,3-diene. The cyclic compound represents the novel 2-amino-1,3-dicyanocyclopentadiene structure. The unique 1-cyano-2-amino-3-cyano arrangement in the cyclopentadiene brings about a strong polarization of the electronic configuration of the diene system that is conformed by two opposite dipolar halves. The polarized electronic configuration accounts for the extreme persistence manifested by the cyclopentadiene. The compound owns a vivid lemon-hued yellow color consequent to an unusually intense n ®p*absorption of a cyano group in the extensively conjugated compound. This is built up by consecutive one-pot reaction of two molecules of malononitrile carbanion and the ketonic substrate followed by a new tandem carbon-carbon cyclization with final elimination of cyanate ion.