A convenient and efficient synthesis of the first (nitroimidazolyl)succinic esters and their diacids

Abstract

We report an easy and efficient synthetic approach to the first series of (nitroimidazolyl)succinic esters and diacids involving the Michael-type addition of the nitroimidazole to the α,β-unsaturated ester. Voltammetric measurements revealed similar redox potentials to those of previous nitroimidazoles used in hypoxia detection. Theoretical calculations were implemented to understand the mechanism of the addition. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.