Silver-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of imines and isocyanoacetates for the synthesis of polysubstituted imidazolines

A silver-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of imines with isocyanoacetates was developed. This reaction represents a novel protocol for the efficient and practical synthesis of polysubstituted imidazolines bearing a broad range of substituents with good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The practicality of this cycloaddition was shown by a gram-scale synthesis.