Reactions of Diazomethanes with 5‐Benzylidene‐3‐phenylrhodanine – A Computational Study

It has been shown previously that the reaction of diazomethane with 5‐benzylidene‐3‐phenylrhodanine ( 1 ) in THF at ?20° occurs at the exocyclic C?C bond via cyclopropanation to give 3a and methylation to yield 4 , respectively, whereas the corresponding reaction with phenyldiazomethane in toluene at 0° leads to the cyclopropane derivative 3b exclusively. Surprisingly, under similar conditions, no reaction was observed between 1 and diphenyldiazomethane, but the 2‐diphenylmethylidene derivative 5 was formed in boiling toluene. In the present study, these results have been rationalized by calculations at the DFT B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level using PCM solvent model. In the case of diazomethane, the formation of 3a occurs via initial Michael addition, whereas 4 is formed via [3+2] cycloaddition followed by N₂ elimination and H‐migration. The preferred pathway of the reaction of 1 with phenyldiazomethane is a [3+2] cycloaddition, subsequent N₂ elimination and ring closure of an intermediate zwitterion to give 3b . Finally, the calculations show that the energetically most favorable reaction of 1 with diphenyldiazomethane is the initial formation of diphenylcarbene, which adds to the S‐atom to give a thiocarbonyl ylide, followed by 1,3‐dipolar electrocyclization and S‐elimination.     

Chemical Reactivity of Oxo‐ and Aza‐γ‐lactam Rings

Different mechanisms for the alkaline hydrolysis of oxo and aza‐γ‐lactam rings have been studied by ab initio calculations at the MP2/6‐31+G*//MP2/6‐31+G* and B3LYP/6‐31+G*//B3LYP/6‐31+G* levels. The tetrahedral intermediate can undergo two different reactions, the cleavage of the C₂−N₂ bond (the classical mechanism) and the cleavage of the C₂−X₆ bond (X=O, N). Both compounds present similar energy barriers for the classical fragmentation, and show considerably lower barriers for the alternative mechanism. Because of this reactivity, the compounds studied are expected to be β‐lactamase inhibitors.     

Kinetic Study and NBO Analysis of the Dehydrogenation Mechanism of Five‐membered Ring Heterocyclic 2,5‐Dihydro‐[furan,thiophene, selenophene

The theoretical study of the dehydrogenation of 2,5‐dihydro‐[furan ( 1 ), thiophene ( 2 ), and selenophene ( 3 )] was carried out using ab initio molecular orbital (MO) and density functional theory (DFT) methods at the B3LYP/6‐311G**//B3LYP/6‐311G** and MP2/6‐311G**//B3LYP/6‐311G** levels of theory. Among the used methods in this study, the obtained results show that B3LYP/6‐311G** method is in good agreement with the available experimental values. Based on the optimized ground state geometries using B3LYP/6‐311G** method, the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of donor‐acceptor (bond‐antibond) interactions revealed that the stabilization energies associated with the electronic delocalization from non‐bonding lone‐pair orbitals [LP(e)_X3] to δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} antibonding orbital, decrease from compounds 1 to 3 . The LP(e)_X3→δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} resonance energies for compounds 1 – 3 are 23.37, 16.05 and 12.46 kJ/mol, respectively. Also, the LP(e)_X3→δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} delocalizations could fairly explain the decrease of occupancies of LP(e)_X3 non‐bonding orbitals in ring of compounds 1 – 3 ( 3 > 2 > 1 ). The electronic delocalization from LP(e)_X3 non‐bonding orbitals to δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} antibonding orbital increases the ground state structure stability, Therefore, the decrease of LP(e)_X3→δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} delocalizations could fairly explain the kinetic of the dehydrogenation reactions of compounds 1 – 3 (k ₁ >k ₂ >k ₃ ). Also, the donor‐acceptor interactions, as obtained from NBO analysis, revealed that the (_C(4)C(7)→δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} resonance energies decrease from compounds 1 to 3 . Further, the results showed that the energy gaps between (_C(4)C(7) bonding and δ*_{C(1)  H(2)} antibonding orbitals decrease from compounds 1 to 3 . The results suggest also that in compounds 1 – 3 , the hydrogen eliminations are controlled by LP(e)→δ* resonance energies. Analysis of bond order, natural bond orbital charges, bond indexes, synchronicity parameters, and IRC calculations indicate that these reactions are occurring through a concerted and synchronous six‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism.     

An X‐ray crystallographic and density functional theory study of (3Z)‐4‐(5‐ethylsulfonyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one and (3Z)‐4‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one

The Schiff base enaminones (3Z)‐4‐(5‐ethylsulfonyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one, C₁₃H₁₇NO₄S, (I), and (3Z)‐4‐(5‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxyanilino)pent‐3‐en‐2‐one, C₁₅H₂₁NO₂, (II), were studied by X‐ray crystallography and density functional theory (DFT). Although the keto tautomer of these compounds is dominant, the O=C—C=C—N bond lengths are consistent with some electron delocalization and partial enol character. Both (I) and (II) are nonplanar, with the amino–phenol group canted relative to the rest of the molecule; the twist about the N(enamine)—C(aryl) bond leads to dihedral angles of 40.5 (2) and −116.7 (1)° for (I) and (II), respectively. Compound (I) has a bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bond between the N—H group and the flanking carbonyl and hydroxy O atoms, as well as an intermolecular hydrogen bond, leading to an infinite one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded chain. Compound (II) has one intramolecular hydrogen bond and one intermolecular C=O...H—O hydrogen bond, and consequently also forms a one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded chain. The DFT‐calculated structures [in vacuo, B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level] for the keto tautomers compare favourably with the X‐ray crystal structures of (I) and (II), confirming the dominance of the keto tautomer. The simulations indicate that the keto tautomers are 20.55 and 18.86 kJ mol⁻¹ lower in energy than the enol tautomers for (I) and (II), respectively.     

4‐Amino‐3‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one (metamitron) and 4‐amino‐6‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one (isometamitron)

The title structures, both C₁₀H₁₀N₄O, are substitutional isomers. The N—N bond lengths are longer and the C=N bond lengths are shorter by ca 0.025 Å than the respective average values in the C=N—N=C group of asymmetric triazines; the assessed respective bond orders are 1.3 and 1.7. There are N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds in both structures, with 4‐­amino‐3‐methyl‐6‐phenyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐5(4H)‐one containing a rare bifurcated N—H⋯N,N hydrogen bond. The structures differ in their mol­ecular stacking and the hydrogen‐bonding patterns.     

Dichloro[1,1′‐(5,9‐dithia‐2,12‐diazoniatrideca‐1,12‐diene‐1,13‐diyl)dinaphthalen‐2‐olato‐κ2O,O′]dimethyltin(IV) acetonitrile solvate

Reaction of the potentially hexadentate ligand 1,9‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthalene­methyl­imino)‐3,7‐di­thia­nonane with di­methyl­tin chloride gave the title 1:1 adduct, in which the long ligand wraps around the SnCl₂Me₂ unit and in which the stereochemistry is fully trans. This compound crystallizes from aceto­nitrile as the 1:1 solvate [Sn(CH₃)₂(C₂₉H₃₀N₂­O₂S₂)Cl₂]·­C₂H₃N. During the reaction, the hydroxyl protons move to the N atoms. Most of the chemically equivalent bond lengths agree to within experimental uncertainty, but the Sn—Cl bond that is inside the ligand pocket is substantially longer than the Sn—Cl bond that points away from the long ligand [2.668 (1) versus 2.528 (1) Å]. The O—Sn—O angle is 166.0 (1)°. Comparison of the Sn—O, C—O and aryl C—C bond lengths with those of related compounds shows that the most important resonance forms for the Schiff base aryl­oxide ligand are double zwitterions, but that the uncharged resonance forms having carbonyl groups also contribute significantly.     

6‐Chloro‐2‐oxindole: X‐ray and DFT‐calculated study

The molecule of the title compound (systematic name: 6‐chloroindolin‐2‐one), C₈H₆ClNO, is almost planar, with a dihedral angle of 1.13 (9)° between the planes of the constituent pyrrolidine and benzene rings. Centrosymmetric dimers are formed in the crystal structure by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, and these dimers are additionally linked by Cl...Cl and C—H...O interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31 G(d,p) level of theory were used to optimize the molecular structure and the geometry was best reproduced by optimization of two interacting molecules. The bond orders in the molecule, estimated using the natural bond orbitals (NBO) formalism, are consistent with the observed bond lengths. In particular, the contribution of the lone pair of electrons on the N atom to the N—C bond in the N—C=O group is revealed. The measured IR spectrum of the compound shows a red shift of the N—H stretching frequency compared with the free molecule, due to the formation of the hydrogen bonds.     

2‐Ethylsulfanyl‐7‐(furan‐2‐yl)‐4‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazine: π‐stacked chains of hydrogen‐bonded R22(10) dimers

In the title compound, C₁₅H₁₂N₄OS₂, the bond distances in the fused heterocyclic system show evidence for aromatic‐type delocalization in the pyrazole ring with some bond fixation in the triazine ring. The thiophenyl substituent is slightly disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies of 0.934 (4) and 0.066 (4). The non‐H atoms in the entire molecule are nearly coplanar, with the planes of the furanyl substituent and the major orientation of the thiophenyl substituent making dihedral angles of 5.72 (17) and 1.8 (3)°, respectively, with that of the fused ring system. Molecules are linked into centrosymmetric R₂²(10) dimers by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and these dimers are further linked into chains by a single π–π stacking interaction. Comparisons are made with some related 4,7‐diaryl‐2‐(ethylsulfanyl)pyrazolo[1,5‐a][1,3,5]triazines which contain variously substituted aryl groups in place of the furanyl and thiophenyl substituents in the title compound.     

A zwitterion of 1,5‐bis­(2‐hydroxy­benzamido)‐3‐aza­pentane: a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network involving dimers

The title compound, 2‐{N‐[2‐(2‐hydroxy­benzamido)ethyl­ammonio­ethyl]amino­carbon­yl}phenolate, C₁₈H₂₁N₃O₄, crystallizes in a zwitterionic form as a result of inter­molecular proton transfer and possesses a negatively charged phenolate group and a protonated amino group. The 2‐hydroxy­benzamide and 2‐(amino­carbonyl)­phenolate moieties attached to the two ends of the C—C—N—C—C backbone adopt a cis conformation in relation to this backbone. All N‐ and O‐bound H atoms are involved in hydrogen‐bond formation; the zwitterions are first linked into head‐to‐tail dimers, which are further organized into a two‐dimensional network parallel to the crystallographic bc plane.     

Methyl 2‐benzamido‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐methylbenzoate and N‐{5‐benzoyl‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐methoxyethenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl}benzamide

Methyl 2‐benzamido‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐methylbenzoate, C₂₄H₂₃NO₅, (Ia), and N‐{5‐benzoyl‐2‐[(Z)‐2‐methoxyethenyl]‐4‐methylphenyl}benzamide, C₂₄H₂₁NO₃, (IIa), were formed via a Diels–Alder reaction of appropriately substituted 2H‐pyran‐2‐ones and methyl propiolate or (Z)‐1‐methoxybut‐1‐en‐3‐yne, respectively. Each of these cycloadditions might yield two different regioisomers, but just one was obtained in each case. In (Ia), an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond closes a six‐membered ring. A chain is formed due to aromatic π–π interactions, and a three‐dimensional framework structure is formed by a combination of C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds. Compound (IIa) was formed not only regioselectively but also chemoselectively, with just the triple bond reacting and the double bond remaining unchanged. Compound (IIa) crystallizes as N—H...O hydrogen‐bonded dimers stabilized by aromatic π–π interactions. Dimers of (IIa) are connected into a chain by weak C—H...π(arene) interactions.     

Z and E rotamers of N‐formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one and their interconversion as studied by 1H/13C NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

N‐Formyl‐1‐bromo‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxymorphinan‐6‐one (compound 2 ), an important intermediate in the NIH Opiate Total Synthesis, presumably exists as a mixture of two rotamers (Z and E) in both CHCl₃ and DMSO at room temperature due to the hindered rotation of its N‐C18 bond in the amide moiety. By comparing the experimental ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts of a single rotamer and the mixture of compound 2 in CDCl₃ with the calculated chemical shifts of the geometry optimized Z and E rotamers utilizing density functional theory, the crystalline rotamer of compound 2 was characterized as having the E configuration. The energy barrier between the two rotamers was also determined with the temperature dependence of ¹H and ¹³C NMR coalescence experiments, and then compared with that from the reaction path for the interconversion of the two rotamers calculated at the level of B3LYP/6‐31G*. Detailed geometry of the ground state and the transition states of both rotamers are given and discussed. Copyright © 2012 This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.     

An experimental and theoretical approach to the molecular structure of 3‐{[4‐(3‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐ indol‐2‐one

The title molecule, 3‐{[4‐(3‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐cyclobutyl)‐thiazol‐2‐yl]‐hydrazono}‐1,3‐dihydro‐indol‐2‐one (C₂₂H₂₀N₄O₁S₁), was prepared and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV–visible, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 with a = 8.3401(5), b = 5.6976(3), c = 20.8155(14) Å, and β = 95.144(5)°. Molecular geometry from X‐ray experiment and vibrational frequencies of the title compound in the ground state has been calculated using the Hartree–Fock with 6‐31G(d, p) and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d, p) and 6‐311G(d, p) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters, and the theoretical vibrational frequencies values show good agreement with experimental data. Density functional theory calculations of the title compound and thermodynamic properties were performed at B3LYP/6‐31G(d, p) level of theory. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

2‐{[(3‐Fluorophenyl)amino]methylidene}‐3‐oxobutanenitrile and 5‐{[(3‐fluorophenyl)amino]methylidene}‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxane‐4,6‐dione: X‐ray and DFT studies

In the crystal structures of the title compounds, C₁₁H₉FN₂O, (I), and C₁₃H₁₂FNO₄, (II), the molecules are joined pairwise via different hydrogen bonds and the constituent pairs are crosslinked by weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The basic structural motif in (I), which is partially disordered, comprises pairs of molecules arranged in an antiparallel fashion which enables C—H...N[triple‐bond]C interactions. The pairs of molecules are crosslinked by two weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The constituent pair in (II) is formed by intramolecular bifurcated C—H...O/O′ and combined inter‐ and intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In both structures, F atoms form weak C—F...H—C interactions with the H atoms of the two neighbouring methyl groups, the H...F separations being 2.59/2.80 and 2.63/2.71 Å in (I) and (II), respectively. The bond orders in the molecules, estimated using the natural bond orbitals (NBO) formalism, correlate with the changes in bond lengths. Deviations from the ideal molecular geometry are explained by the concept of non‐equivalent hybrid orbitals. The existence of possible conformers of (I) and (II) is analysed by molecular calculations at the B3LYP/6–31+G** level of theory.     

Four differently substituted 2‐aryl‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepines: hydrogen‐bonded structures in one,two and three dimensions

In (2RS,4SR)‐7‐chloro‐2‐exo‐(2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₆H₁₂Cl₂FNO, (I), molecules are linked into chains by a single C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bond. (2RS,4SR)‐2‐exo‐(2‐Chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₆H₁₃ClFNO, (II), is isomorphous with compound (I) but not strictly isostructural with it, as the hydrogen‐bonded chains in (II) are linked into sheets by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. The molecules of (2RS,4SR)‐7‐methyl‐2‐exo‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₈H₁₉NO, (III), are linked into sheets by a combination of C—H...N and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds. (2S,4R)‐2‐exo‐(2‐Chlorophenyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro‐1H‐1,4‐epoxy‐1‐benzazepine, C₁₆H₁₄ClNO, (IV), crystallizes as a single enantiomer and the molecules are linked into a three‐dimensional framework structure by a combination of one C—H...O hydrogen bond and three C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds.     

2‐Formyl­benzonitrile

The title compound, C₈H₅NO, has an intra­molecular O⋯CN contact involving an O⋯C distance of 2.797 (2) Å and a C—C—N bond angle of 174.5 (2)°, both indicative of a weak nucleophilic attack of the aldehyde O atom on the electrophilic C atom in the nitrile group. Calculations at the B3LYP density functional level using the 6–31G* basis set support this inter­pretation; natural bond‐order analysis indicates an n_O1→π delocalization energy of 6.3 kJ mol⁻¹. Similar results were obtained from density functional calculations on three related mol­ecules. The 2‐formyl­benzonitrile mol­ecules pack in sheets as a consequence of C—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.     

Transition states for deactivation reactions in the modeled 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy‐mediated free‐radical polymerization of acrylonitrile

The geometries and energetics of transition states (TS) for radical deactivation reactions, including competitive combination and disproportionation reactions, have been studied for the modeled 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)‐mediated free‐radical polymerization of acrylonitrile with quantum mechanical calculations at the DFT/UB3‐LYP/6‐311+G(3df,2p)//(U)AM1 level of theory (where DFT is density functional theory, AM1 is Austin model 1, and UAM1 is unrestricted Austin model 1). A method providing reasonable starting geometries for an effective search for TS between the TEMPO radical and 1‐cyanopropyl radical mimicking the growing polyacrylonitrile macroradical is shown. For the hydrogen atom abstraction reaction by the TEMPO radical from the 1‐cyanopropyl radical, practically one TS has been found, whereas for the combination reaction of the radicals, several TS have been found, mainly differing in out‐of‐plane angle α of the N? O bond in the TEMPO structure. α in the TS is correlated with the activation energy, ΔE, determined from the single‐point calculation at the DFT UB3‐LYP/6‐311+G(3df, 2p)//UAM1 level for the combination reaction of CH₃AN· with the TEMPO radical. The theoretical activation energy for the coupling reaction from DFT UB3‐LYP/6‐311+G(3df, 2p)//UAM1 calculations has been estimated to be 11.6 kcal mol^?1, that is, only about 4.5 times smaller than ΔE for the disproportionation reaction obtained with the DFT UB3‐LYP/6‐311+G(3df, 2p)//(U)AM1 approach. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 914–927, 2006     

Blue‐shifted and red‐shifted hydrogen bonds: Theoretical study of the CH3CHO· · ·HNO complexes

The blue‐shifted and red‐shifted H‐bonds have been studied in complexes CH₃CHO…HNO. At the MP2/6‐31G(d), MP2/6‐31+G(d,p) MP2/6‐311++G(d,p), B3LYP/6‐31G(d), B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) and B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) levels, the geometric structures and vibrational frequencies of complexes CH₃CHO…HNO are calculated by both standard and CP‐corrected methods, respectively. Complex A exhibits simultaneously red‐shifted C? H…O and blue‐shifted N? H…O H‐bonds. Complex B possesses simultaneously two blue‐shifted H‐bonds: C? H…O and N? H…O. From NBO analysis, it becomes evident that the red‐shifted C? H…O H‐bond can be explained on the basis of the two opposite effects: hyperconjugation and rehybridization. The blue‐shifted C? H…O H‐bond is a result of conjunct C? H bond strengthening effects of the hyperconjugation and the rehybridization due to existence of the significant electron density redistribution effect. For the blue‐shifted N? H…O H‐bonds, the hyperconjugation is inhibited due to existence of the electron density redistribution effect. The large blue shift of the N? H stretching frequency is observed because the rehybridization dominates the hyperconjugation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

2,2′‐[(Disulfanediyl)bis{5‐[(1E)‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)amino]‐1,3‐thiazole‐4,2‐diyl}]diphenol: synthesis,crystal structure and calculation of molecular hyperpolarizability

The title Schiff base compound {systematic name: 2‐[5‐[(E )‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)amino]‐4‐(2‐{5‐[(E )‐(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)amino]‐2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐4‐yl}disulfanyl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl]phenol}, C₃₂H₂₂N₄O₄S₄, incorporating a disulfanediyl (dithio) linkage, was obtained from the condensation reaction between two equivalents of salicylaldehyde and one equivalent of dithiooxamide in dimethylformamide, and was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopic analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. A one‐dimensional chain is formed along the b axis via double intermolecular C—H…S hydrogen bonds. The HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) energies and some related molecular parameters were calculated at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular hyperpolarizability was also calculated.     

Exploring the Border between Concerted and Two‐Step Pathways of 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of Organic Azides to Cyclic Ketene N,X‐Acetals. – Synthesis and 15N‐NMR Spectra of Zwitterions and Spirocyclic Cycloadducts

Cyclic ketene N,X‐acetals 1 are electron‐rich dipolarophiles that undergo 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions with organic azides 2 ranging from alkyl to strongly electron‐deficient azides, e.g., picryl azide ( 2L ; R¹=2,4,6‐(NO₂)₃C₆H₂) and sulfonyl azides 2M – O (R¹=XSO₂; cf. Scheme 1). Reactions of the latter with the most‐nucleophilic ketene N,N‐acetals 1A provided the first examples for two‐step HOMO(dipolarophile)–LUMO(1,3‐dipole)‐controlled 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions via intermediate zwitterions 3 . To set the stage for an exploration of the frontier between concerted and two‐step 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions of this type, we first describe the scope and limitations of concerted cycloadditions of 2 to 1 and delineate a number of zwitterions 3 . Alkyl azides 2A – C add exclusively to ketene N,N‐acetals that are derived from 1H‐tetrazole (see 1A ) and 1H‐imidazole (see 1B , C ), while almost all aryl azides yield cycloadducts 4 with the ketene N,X‐acetals (X=NR, O, S) employed, except for the case of extreme steric hindrance of the 1,3‐dipole (see 2E ; R¹=2,4,6‐(^tBu)₃C₆H₂). The most electron‐deficient paradigm, 2L , affords zwitterions 16D , E in the reactions with 1A , while ketene N,O‐ and N,S‐acetals furnish products of unstable intermediate cycloadducts. By tuning the electronic and steric demands of aryl azides to those of ketene N,N‐acetals 1A , we discovered new borderlines between concerted and two‐step 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions that involve similar pairs of dipoles and dipolarophiles: 4‐Nitrophenyl azide ( 2G ) and the 2,2‐dimethylpropylidene dipolarophile 1A (R, R=H, ^tBu) gave a cycloadduct 13 H , while 2‐nitrophenyl azide ( 2 H ) and the same dipolarophile afforded a zwitterion 16A . Isopropylidene dipolarophile 1A (R=Me) reacted with both 2G and 2 H to afford cycloadducts 13G , J ) but furnished a zwitterion 16B with 2,4‐dinitrophenyl azide ( 2I) . Likewise, 1A (R=Me) reacted with the isomeric encumbered nitrophenyl azides 2J and 2K to yield a cycloadduct 13L and a zwitterion 16C , respectively. These examples suggest that, in principle, a host of such borderlines exist which can be crossed by means of small structural variations of the reactants. Eventually, we use ¹⁵N‐NMR spectroscopy for the first time to characterize spirocyclic cycloadducts 10 – 14 and 17 (Table 6), and zwitterions 16 (Table 7).