NG-hydroxyguanidines from primary amines.

A concise and general method for the preparation of N(G)-hydroxyguanidines from primary amines is reported. Using available and readily prepared materials, primary amines are converted to protected N(G)-hydroxyguanidines in a one-pot procedure followed by deprotection under nonreducing conditions. The method has been successfully applied to a number of examples including a high-yielding preparation of N(G)-hydroxy-L-arginine, the intermediate in the enzymatic conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide and L-citrulline by nitric oxide synthase.