A method is described for the synthesis of a series of 2'-aryl-3-azabi
cyclospiro-4'(5')-imidazolines via the reaction of azabicyclic 1,2-dia
mines with aryl imidate salts. Competing reactions in the synthesis of
the diamines such as the reduction of amino nitriles with LiA1H(4) le
ad to some anomalous products. In the Pinner synthesis, unstable pyrid
ine-type imidates were stabilized as their N-oxide derivatives.