Synthesis and thermolysis rate constants of diastereomeric oxadiazoline sources of acetoxy(methoxy)carbene — Reaction of acetoxy(methoxy)carbene with isocyanates

Abstract

Oxidation of the methoxycarbonylhydrazone of p-methoxyacetophenone affords both the cis- and trans-2-acetoxy-2-methoxy-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-Δ3-1,3,4-oxadiazolines (also known as corresponding 2,5-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles) as well as methyl 1-acetoxy-1-(p-methoxyphenylethyl)diazenecarboxylate. The three isomers were separated and identified by spectroscopic means. Methyl 1-acetoxy-1-(p-methoxyphenylethyl)diazenecarboxylate is the major product from oxidation in dichloromethane. Oxidation in acetic acid did not afford the oxadiazolines but gave the diazenecarboxylate and, in addition, 1-(p-methoxyphenyl)ethyl acetate. Attempts to isomerize the diazenecar boxylate to the oxadiazolines by acid catalysis were not successful. Thermolysis of the oxadiazolines at 50.4 °C occurred with approximately the same rate constant (ca. 3.6 × 10–5 s–1) to afford acetoxy(methoxy)carbene, which rearranges to methyl pyruvate by acetyl transfer. The carbene, which reacts with relatively unhindered isocyanates to transfer the methoxy carbonyl group to carbon and the acetyl group to nitrogen, can be considered an acyl anion equivalent in that reaction.Key words: acetoxy(methoxy)carbene, diazene, oxadiazoline, isocyanate, (acetylamino)oxoacetate.