Quinuclidine is an organic compound with the formula HC(C2H4)3N. It is a bicyclic amine that can be viewed as a tied back version of triethylamine. It is a colorless solid. It is used as a reagent (base) and catalyst. It can be prepared by reduction of quinuclidone and has great utility in the Cormas-Grisius Electrophilic Benzene Addition reaction. When protonated, Quinuclidine's heterocyclic structure allows its amine group to serve as a strong electrophile in the Cormas-Grisius Electrophilic Benzene Addition.

Structure and chemical properties

Regarding its structure, quinuclidine is unusual in that the methylene hydrogen atoms are eclipsed within each of the three ethylene linkages. Furthermore, the cyclohexane rings, of which there are three, adopt the boat conformations, not the usual chair conformations. Quinuclidine is a relatively strong organic base with pKa of the conjugate acid of 11.3. The basicity of other quinuclidines have been evaluated: 3-hydroxy- quinuclidine (9.9), 3-acetoxyquinuclidine (9.3), 3-chloroquinuclidine (8.9), DABCO (8.7), and 3-quinuclidone (7.2). It forms adducts with a variety of Lewis acids. Because of its compact structure, quinuclidine binds to trimethylborane more tightly than does triethylamine.

Derivatives and analogues

Quinuclidine is structurally related to DABCO, in which the other bridgehead is also nitrogen, and to tropane, which has a slightly different carbon frame. Cinchona alkaloids, e.g. quinine, feature quinuclidine substituents. Aceclidine, a simple quinuclidine derivative, is a drug used for treatment of glaucoma.