Ester Azines from Reactions of Carbenes with Oxadiazolines

Abstract

<p> A series of 2-substituted Δ^3-1,3,4-oxadiazolines (i) were synthesized by oxidation of the corresponding hydrazones with lead-tetraacetate in alcohol, eq A. (See Diagram A in Thesis)</p> <p> These oxadiazolines, upon thermolysis, generated carbonyl ylide intermediates (ii). These ylides are known to undergo fragmentation into carbenes and carbonyl compounds, eq B. (See Diagram B in Thesis)</p> <p> A new series of products were found from the thermolysis of these types of oxadiazolines, ester azines iv and v. A possible mechanism for the formation of these ester azines involves carbene attack on the oxadiazoline to give an azomethine imine intermediate (iii) which can subsequently rearrange to give the azines and carbonyl compounds, eq C. (See Diagram C in Thesis)</p> <p> This mechanism is supported by the observation that the overall yields of ester azines rise with increasing initial concentration of oxadiazoline whereas the yield of propene, a rearrangement product of dimethyl carbene, falls with increasing initial concentration of oxadiazoline.</p> <p> The ester azines (R=CH3, CH2CH3 and CH(CH3)2) were found to be uniconfigurational and the E-configuration was assigned to ester azine iv and the E,E-configuration was assigned to ester azine v. Ester azines (R=C(CH3)3) were found to exist as configurational isomers. Equilibration studies were carried out on these ester azines and the thermodynamic parameters ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS° were found for equilibration shown in eq D. (See Diagram D in Thesis)</p> <p> Changing the R' substituent of i to OCH2CCl3 or OCH2CF3 did not stop fragmentation of the derived ylide. Ester azines were found from the thermolysis of these oxadiazolines also. They were found to be uniconfigurational and were assigned the E-configuration.</p>