One pot conversion of benzophenone imine into the relevant 2-aza-allenium

Interaction of common imines with WCl6 in organic solvents revealed very unusual features in the context of imine chemistry. Ph2C[double bond, length as m-dash]NH was converted in one pot into the 2-aza-allenium species [Ph2C[double bond, length as m-dash]N[double bond, length as m-dash]CPh2]+ via N2 release, with [Ph2C[double bond, length as m-dash]NH2]+ being a co-product. PhCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NtBu underwent C-H bond activation resulting in the formation of [C[triple bond, length as m-dash]N] containing derivatives, together with [PhCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NHtBu]+.