Synthesis and Isomerization of Adducts of Azodicarbonyl Compounds and Cyclopentadiene

Abstract

The synthesis of a range of bicyclic Diels–Alder adducts (structures b) of cyclopentadiene with symmetrical and unsymmetrical azodicarbonyl compounds is described. Thermal isomerization of these adducts to the bicyclic 1,3,4-oxadiazines (structures c and d) is especially rapid with bulky acyl groups. In unsymmetrical adducts with acyl groups of markedly different size, the larger group dictates completely the direction of isomerization. Adducts with two different aroyl groups give both isomers.Spectroscopic properties of the adducts, the oxadiazines and the dihydro derivatives of the oxadiazines are described.