Methods for the synthesis of polycyclic guanidine compounds

1. A method for the preparation of a polycyclic guanidine compound of Formula V:

wherein:

R a is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted aliphatic, optionally substituted heteroaliphatic, optionally substituted aryl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl;

R c is optionally present, wherein each occurrence of R c is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, optionally substituted aliphatic, optionally substituted heteroaliphatic, optionally substituted awl, and optionally substituted heteroaryl, wherein two or more R c groups can optionally be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings optionally containing one to three heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur;

n is an integer from 1 to 4 inclusive; and

m is an integer from 1 to 4 inclusive;

comprising the step of contacting a triamine compound of Formula IV:

with a reagent selected from:

an acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I:

wherein each occurrence of R b is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, optionally substituted aryl and nitrile; or

a cyanimide compound of Formula II:

wherein each occurrence of R b is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, optionally substituted aryl; or

melamine or a melamine derivative of Formula III:

wherein each occurrence of R x and R y is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, and optionally substituted aryl;

further comprising a step of heating a mixture of the triamine compound of Formula IV and the reagent to a temperature between about 50° C. and about 250° C.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reagent is an acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each occurrence of R b is hydrogen or optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, wherein the optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic is an alkyl group.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is guanidine.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is tetraalkyl guanidine.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is tetramethyl guanidine.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is in the form of a salt or adduct.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of:

guanidine carbonate; guanidine sulfate; guanidine acetate; guanidine nitrate;

guanidine p-toluene sulfonate; guanidine hydrochloride; and guanidine phosphate.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least one occurrence of R b is nitrile.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is of Formula Ia:

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acyclic guanidine compound of Formula I is cyanoguanidine.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reagent is a cyanimide compound of Formula II.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each occurrence of R b is hydrogen.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein each occurrence of R b is hydrogen or optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, wherein the optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic is an alkyl group.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reagent is melamine or a melamine derivative of Formula III.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each occurrence of R x and R y is independently hydrogen or optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic, wherein the optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic is an alkyl group.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the reagent is melamine.

18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the triamine compound of Formula IV is of Formula IVa:

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted bis(aminopropyl)amine.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted bis(aminoethyl)amine.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)piperidine.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted 2,6-bis(aminoethyl)piperidine.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)pyrrolidine.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted 2,5-bis(aminoethyl) pyrrolidine.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,4-butanediamine.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is an optionally substituted N-(2-aminopropyl)-1,4-butanediamine.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is selected from the group consisting of:

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is of the following structure:

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is of the following structure:

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound is of the following structure:

32. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound and the reagent are contacted in the presence of a solvent.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound and the reagent are contacted in the absence of a solvent.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature between about 80° C. and about 200° C.

35. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature between about 100° C. and about 180° C.

36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature between about 140° C. and about 160° C.

37. The method of claim 1 , wherein the triamine compound and the reagent are contacted in the presence of a promoter.

38. The method of claim 37 , wherein the promoter is an acid.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of mineral acids and sulfonic acids.

40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the promoter is a sulfonic acid.

41. The method of claim 38 , wherein the acid is phosphoric acid.

42. The method of claim 38 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.

43. The method of claim 40 , wherein the sulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of methane sulfonic acid, ethane sulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and trifluormethyl sulfonic acid.

44. The method of claim 38 , further comprising a step of treating a crude product generated from reaction of the reagent and the triamine compound with a strong base.

45. The method of claim 44 , wherein the strong base is a metal alkoxide.

46. The method of claim 38 , wherein the molar ratio of acid promoter to reagent is from about 10:1 to about 1:10.

47. The method of claim 38 , wherein the molar ratio of acid promoter to reagent is about 1:1.

48. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of triamine compound to reagent is from about 2:1 to about 1:2.

49. The method of claim 48 , wherein the molar ratio of triamine compound to reagent is about 1:1.