From Diphosphino‐Functionalized 1,3‐Dialkylimidazolium Cations to Imidazolones through Dehydrogenative CN Coupling

Diphosphino-functionalized 1,3-dialkylimidazolium salts react with KOH affording amine/formamide open-chain products, which fully revert to the imidazolium cation by treatment with a variety of acids or are converted to 2-imidazolones by noncatalyzed intramolecular dehydrogenative CN coupling, a process that is modulated by coordination of the phosphino functionalities to transition metals.