Synthesis of tetrahydrofolate coenzyme models 1,2-dimethyl-3-m(p)-nitrophenylsulfonyl imidazolinium iodide and their methyl-substituted one carbon unit transfer reactions

Tetrahydrofolate (THF) coenzymes are involved in biochemical transfer of aone-carbon fragment at different oxidation levels. The study of THF models may providea valuable class of reagents for group transfer reactions with practical significance. Onlya few researches about 5, 10-methenyl-THF models have been reported in literature.

Tetrahydrofolate coenzyme models I·Synthesis of l-methyl-2-phenyl-3-aryl imidazoliniumiodide and benzylildyne(phenyl-substitutef one carbon unit)transfer reactions

Four 1, 2, 3-trisubstituted imidazolinium iodides which were used as 5,10-^+CPh-THF model (7-10) at formic acid oxidation level were synthesized. The benzylidyne group (phenyl- substituted one carbon unit)transfer reactions from these compounds to Grignard reagent were in- vestigated, and the reactions of these compounds with KBH_4 and NaOH were also studied.