SYNTHESIS OF 5-AMINO-1- ARYL-4-CYANOIMIDAZOLES FROM N-ARYL-N′-(1,2-DICYANOVINYL)- FORMAMIDINES

The aryl-(Z)-N-[2-amino-1,2-dicyanovinyl]formamidine cyclize in the presence of base to give a 1,5-diamino-4-cyanoimidazole or a 1,5-diamino-4-(cyanoformimidoyl)imidazole, depending on the reaction conditions and the nature of the base used to induced cyclization.