Synthesis of substituted imidazolines via [3+2]-cycloaddition of aziridines with nitriles

Abstract An efficient synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted 1 H -imidazolines from aziridines and nitriles in the presence of BF 3 –Et 2 O or triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate has been described. The reaction proceeds via a [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction. Most of the nitriles successfully underwent cycloaddition reactions with aziridines even at room temperature in a very short time.