Regioselectivity in methylation and phenylation of the zwitterionic pyrido[2,1-f]-as-triazinium-1- and 3-olates and thiolates

Substituted derivatives of the title ring system have been synthesized and the regioselectivity in methylation and phenylation of the zwitterionic pyrido[2,1-f]-as-triazinium 1- and 3-olates 4a-g and 10 and thiolates 7a,b and 12 has been studied by nmr techniques. Depending on the soft or hard nature of the used reagent (methyl iodide, trimethyloxonium hexafluorophosphate or diphenyliodonium tetrafluoroborate), the reaction yielded NMe 5 and/or OMe 6,11a and NPh 14 or OPh 11b products in the case of olates; while thiolates gave NMe 8 and/or SMe 9,13a and SPh 13b, 15 compounds. Mechanistic suggestions are given to rationalize the observed phenomena.