A convenient synthesis and hepatoprotective activity of imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimido[5,4-e]pyrimidine, tetraazaacenaphthene and tetraazaphenalene from cyclic ketene aminals through tandem addition-cyclization reactions.

A novel one-pot synthesis of imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimido[5,4-e]pyrimidinones (2), tetraazaacenaphthene-3,6-diones (4), tetarazaphenalene-1,7-dione (4d) is delineated from the reaction of cyclic ketene aminal (1) and alkyl or aryl isothiocyanate through tandem addition-cyclization reactions. However, reaction of ketene aminal (1a) with alkyl isothiocyanate only yielded angularly cyclized product 5 which did not react further to yield 6. The structure of 2c and 4d was ascertained by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis which demonstrated a network of various inter- and intramolecular interactions, responsible for the stability and packing of the molecules in the crystalline state. Some of the compounds (2a--h) were screened for hepatoprotective activity but only 2a was found most effective.