Synthesis of optically active polyheterocycles containing pyrrolidine, imidazole, and 1,2,3-triazole rings

Abstract Optically active polyheterocycles containing pyrrolidine, imidazole, and 1,2,3-triazole units were obtained via a multistep synthesis with the [3+2] cycloaddition of Boc-protected ( S )-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methyl azide with 2-ethynylimidazoles in the presence of CuI (CuAAC reaction) as the key step. Typical for terminal alkynes, the reactions occurred regioselectively and 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles were formed exclusively. The deprotection of the pyrrolidine N-atom was performed by treatment with TFA under standard conditions.