Regioselective Amination of 4-Methylene-5, 7-dinitroquinazoline: a mechanistic consideration on non-conventional N-H—π interactions between amine and ethylene moiety

Pi (π) interactions originating from the N-H bond of amine and ethylene moiety have been explored on the mechanism of aromatic nucleophilic substitution (ArSN) of the nitro group of 4-methylene-5,7-dinitroquinazoline with methylamine in the gas phase and solvent media within DFT framework. The free energy profiles confirmed that the amination should take place at peri-position and calculations support the one-step mechanism through a transition state with no intermediate in the reaction route. Stabilisation of peri-transition state by intramolecular weak interaction akin to hydrogen bonding N-H—CH ₂ = C leads to the regioselective amination at peri-position of 4-methylene-5,7-dinitroquinazoline. The intramolecular hydrogen bond interactions at N-H—CH ₂ = C in the peri-transition state are strongly supported by a red shift in N-H stretching vibrations in simulated IR spectra and are confirmed by studying energetics of amination of structural/electronic analogues of 4-methylene-5,7-dinitroquinazoline. The present study established that ethylene plays an important role as an efficient H-bond acceptor in fixing the regioselectivity at peri-position in the amination of 4-methylene-5,7-dinitroquinazoline. This is the first-ever report for the exploration of the role of ethylene moiety as a hydrogen bond acceptor in mediating the regioselectivity of organic reactions.