2,3,5,6-tetramethylmorpholine. VI. Cyclization of N-substituted 3,3′-iminobis-2-butanols

The cyclization of N-substituted 3,3′-iminobis-2-butanols to N-substituted 2,3,5,6-tetramethylmorpholines in sulfuric acid is studied. The ring closure seems to be exclusively a normal S_N2-type substitution with partial inversion of configuration before the cyclization. The steric influence of the N-substituents on the S_N2-reaction and on the inversion is discussed.