Cyclization process utilizing copper aluminum borate as a catalyst

A cyclization process utilizing copper aluminum borate catalyst which process comprises the step of contacting (1) a starting compound comprising at least one five- or six-membered ring having ring substituents comprising (a) a first substituent selected from (i) a methyl group and (ii) a hydrocarbyl-containing group comprising a continuous sequence of two or more atoms, said sequence having a first atom selected from carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur bonded directly to the ring, and a second atom selected from carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, having at least one hydrogen atom bonded thereto and separated by not more than one sequence atom from said first atom;

• and (b) a second substituent ortho to the first and comprising nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur bonded directly to the ring or separated therefrom by a continuous sequence of not more than two atoms;
• with (2) a catalyst consisting essentially of at least one member selected from the group consisting of (a) crystalline copper on a support comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 B.sub.2 O.sub.9 and said crystalline copper aluminum borate, the zero valent copper on the support being formed by the reduction of the crystalline copper aluminum borate, said cyclization process being conducted under conditions sufficient to effect ring closure between said first and second substituents resulting in formation of a heterocyclic ring fused to the ring of the starting compound.

A cyclization process utilizing the catalyst copper aluminum borate which comprises the step of contacting (1) a starting compound having the general formula below:

• ##STR30## wherein X is --NH.sub.2, --OH or SH;
• wherein the R' groups, being the same or different, are H or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbyl;
• and the R groups, being the same or different, are H or substantially hydrocarbyl, and n=1 or 2;
• with (2) a catalyst consisting essentially of at least one member selected from the group consisting of (a) crystalline copper aluminum borate having the significant x-ray diffraction lines set forth in Table A and (b) zero valent copper on a support comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.4 B.sub.2 O.sub.9 and said crystalline copper aluminum borate, the zero valent copper on the support being formed by the reduction of the crystalline copper aluminum borate, said cyclization process being conducted under conditions sufficient to effect ring closure resulting in the formation of a heterocyclic fused ring compound.