Stereochemistry of dihydroxylation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylbicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-5-ene-<Emphasis Type="Italic">endo</Emphasis>- and -<Emphasis Type="Italic">exo</Emphasis>-2,3-dicarboximides

Stereochemistry of the oxidation of N-arylbicyclo2.2.1]hept-5-ene-endo-and-exo-2,3-dicarboximides at the double bond with peroxyacetic acid generated in situ in the presence of sulfuric acid and with an anhydrous dioxane solution of peroxyacetic acid was studied. In both cases, the reaction was stereospecific, regardless of the substituent in the N-aryl group and configuration of the imide ring, but the reaction direction depended on the presence of water in the system. In the first case, the corresponding trans-5,6-dihydroxy derivatives were formed, while in the second, exo-5,6-epoxy derivatives. The oxidation of N-arylbicyclo2.2.1]-hept-5-ene-endo-and-exo-2,3-dicarboximides with a solution of potassium permanganate in aqueous acetone gave the corresponding N-aryl-cis-5,6-dihydroxybicyclo2.2.1]heptane-endo-and-exo-2,3-dicarboximides. The exo,cis,exo and exo,cis,endo configurations of the synthesized compounds were determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.