The reaction of [Re(OTf)(CO)5] with N-methylimidazole (MeIm) afforded [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]OTf (1). The reactions of 1 with KPF6, NaBPh4 and NaBAr'4 (Ar' = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) afforded [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]PF6 (2) [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]BPh4 (3) and [Re(CO)3(MeIm)3]BAr'4 (4) respectively. An analogous reaction using N-phenylimidazole (PhIm) yielded [Re(CO)3(PhIm)3]BAr'4 (7). These new compounds were...

The N-Boc-protected (S)-prolinamine reacts readily with formaldehyde and diverse alphahydroxyimino ketones to give imidazole N-oxides with an enantiomerically pure N-protected (pyrrolidin-2yl)methyl substituent. Subsequent deprotection yields the corresponding NH derivatives. Upon treatment of these products with Ac2O at room temperature, a cascade of reactions leads to optically active tricycl...