Synthesis of polyfunctionalized furans from 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones

The BF₃-catalyzed cyclization of 3-acetyl-1-aryl-2-pentene-1,4-diones 1a-e in the presence of water in boiling tetrahydrofuran gave bis(3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-furyl)methanes 2a-e in 26-79% yields along with a small amount of 3-acetyl-5-aryl-2-methylfurans 3a-e. The exact structure of 2a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The use of a half volume of the solvent for the reaction of 1a resulted in the formation of 2,4-bis(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-phenylfuran (4) together with 2a and 3a. A similar reaction of 1a was carried out in the presence of 3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (3d) to afford 4-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-3-acetyl-5-(4-methylphenyl)-2-methylfuran (5) in 49% yield. The BF₃-catalyzed reaction of 1a with 2,4-pentanedione in dry tetrahydrofuran at 23°C gave 3-(3-acetyl-5-phenyl-2-furfuryl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (6a) and 3-(3-acetyl-2-methyl-4-phenyl-5-furyl)-4-hydroxy-3-penten-2-one (7a) in 66 and 24% yields, respectively. The product distribution depended on the reaction temperature. A similar reaction of 1b-e also yielded the corresponding trisubstituted furans 6b-e and tetrasubstituted furans 7b-e in good yields. These results suggested the presence of the furfuryl carbocation intermediate A during the reaction. The one-pot synthesis of 6a and 7a was also achieved by a similar reaction using phenylglyoxal. The deoxygenation of 1a with triphenylphosphine gave 3a in 88% yield, while 1a was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid to yield 3-acetyl-2-chloromethyl-5-phenylfuran (8) which was quantitatively transformed in ethanol into 3-acetyl-2-ethoxymethyl-5-phenylfuran (9) and in water into 3-acetyl-5-phenylfurfuryl alcohol (10), respectively. In addition, the Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopantadiene with 1a gave the corresponding [4+2] cycloaddition products 11 and 12.     

The reaction of 2-(1-hydropolyfluoro-1-alkenyl)-4H-3,1-benzoxin-4-ones with dinucleophilic reagents: a convenient route to fluoroalkylated nitrogen-containing tricyclic compounds

The reactions of 2-(1-hydropolyfluoro-1-alkenyl)-4H-3,1-benzoxin-4-ones (2) with hydrazine hydrate and phenyl hydrazine were investigated. The reaction of 2 with hydrazine hydrate in ethanol under reflux condition readily gave 2-fluoroalkyl-4H-pyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-9-ones (3) in high yields. The reaction of 2 with phenyl hydrazine, however, resulted in the formation of 2-(2-phenyl-5-fluoroalkyl-2H-pyrazol-3-yl) benzoic acids (7). Further treatment of 7 with PPA gave 1-phenyl-4,9-dihydro-3-fluoroalkyl-1H-pyrozolo[3,4-b]quinolin-4-ones (4) in 65-80% overall yields.     

Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component C-2-arylallylation of active methylene heterocycles: pyrazolones, oxazolones, isoxazolones and N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid

A Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component cascade involving an aryl iodide, allene and a heterocyclic pronucleophile is used to prepare 2-arylallyl derivatives (10-12 and 16-24) from 3-phenyl-5-isoxazolone (6) and 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolin-5-one (7) in moderate yield. Similar cascade allylation of masked amino acids 4-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8a), 4-benzyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8b) and 4-isopropyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8c) gave analogous products (25-37) in good yield. N,N-Dimethylbarbiturates (38-49) are similarly prepared from N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid (9) in excellent yield.     

Specific features of the reactions of quinazoline and its 4-hydroxy and 4-chloro substituted derivatives with C-nucleophiles

Reactions of quinazoline 1 with indole, pyrogallol and 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one in the presence of acid led to C-4 adducts 2, 3 and 5. Adduct 4 is formed by heating 1 with 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid without acid catalysis. 1-Phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one reacts with 1 without acid catalysis to form dipyrazolylmethane 6. 4-Chloroquinazoline 8 reacts with 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one to form 4-(1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-oxopyrazol-4-yl) quinazoline 9 and dipyrazolylmethane 6. Heating 8 with 2-methylindole leads to the formation of 4-(2-methylindol-3-yl) quinazoline 10 and tris(2-methylindol-3-yl)methane 11.     

Synthesis, characterization and luminescence study of dimethyl(β-ketoiminato)gallium (-indium) complexes: crystal structure of dimethyl[1-phenyl-3-N-(4-methoxyphenylimino)-1-butanonato]gallium

Six dimethylgallium (indium) complexes of type Me₂ML [M = Ga, L = 1-phenyl-3-N-(phenylimino)-1-butanonato (1), 1-phenyl-3-N-(p-methoxyphenylimino)-1-butanonato (2), 1-phenyl-3-N-(o-chloro phenylimino)-1-butanonato (3); M = In, L = 1-phenyl-3-N-(phenyl imino)-1-butanonato (4), 1-phenyl-3-N-(p-methoxyphenylimino)-1-butanonato (5), 1-phenyl-3-N-(o-chlorophenylimino)-1-butanonato (6)] have been synthesized by reaction of trimethylgallium (indium) with appropriate 1-phenyl-3-N-(arylimino)-1-butanones. The complexes obtained have been characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, IR and mass spectroscopy. Structure of 2 has been determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis, in which Ga atom is four coordinated. Complexes 1-6 emit colors from blue to green (463-491 nm) when irradiated by UV light. The electroluminescent (EL) properties of 1-6 were examined by fabricating EL devices using 1-6 as emitter, respectively. The EL bands are located in the green region (509-522 nm).     

(−)-epi-Presilphiperfolan-1-ol, a new triquinane sesquiterpene from the essential oil of Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia (Pteridophyta)

(−)-epi-Presilphiperfolan-1-ol, (1), a new triquinane sesquiterpene, was isolated from the essential oil of Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia by column chromatography. Its structure elucidation was accomplished by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses, as well as by GC-MS, chiral bidimensional GC, dehydration reactions, and a comparative (GIAO/DFT) theoretical study of the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of 1 and its known isomers (presilphiperfolan-1-ol (1a), presilphiperfolan-8-ol (3), and presilphiperfolan-9-ol (4)).     

Silicon-carbon unsaturated compounds. 73. Photolysis of cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol and acetone

Irradiation of cis-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1a) in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol in hexane with a low-pressure mercury lamp bearing a Vycor filter proceeded with high stereospecificity to give cis-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2a), in 33% isolated yield, together with a 15% yield of 1-[(tert-butoxy)methylphenylsilyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (3). The photolysis of trans-1,2-dimethyl-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexane (1b) with tert-butyl alcohol under the same conditions gave stereospecifically trans-2,3-benzo-1-tert-butoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (2b) in 41% isolated yield, along with a 12% yield of 3. Similar photolysis of 1a and 1b with tert-butyl alcohol-d₁ produced 2a and 2b, respectively, in addition to 1-[(tert-butoxy)(monodeuteriomethyl)(phenyl)silyl]-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane. When 1a and 1b were photolyzed with acetone in a hexane solution, cis- and trans-2,3-benzo-1-isopropoxy-1,4-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-disilacyclooct-2-ene (4a and 4b) were obtained in 25% and 23% isolated yield. In both photolyses, 1-(hydroxymethylphenylsilyl)-4-(methylphenylsilyl)butane (5) was also isolated in 4% and 5% yield, respectively. The photolysis of 1a with acetone-d₆ under the same conditions gave 4a-d₆ and 5-d₁ in 18% and 4% yields.     

Synthesis of indenes by ytterbium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes with acetals

Ytterbium-catalyzed tandem carboalkoxylation/Friedel-Crafts reaction of arylidenecyclopropanes 1 with acetals 2 afforded the corresponding indene derivatives 3 in good to high yields. For example, in the presence of 10 mol % of Yb(OTf)₃ the reaction of 1-phenylbenzylidenecyclopropane 1a with the dimethyl acetals of benzaldehyde 2a, p-tolualdehyde 2b, and p-anisaldehyde 2c gave 1,3-diphenyl-2-(2-methoxyethyl)indene 3a, 2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenyl-1-(p-tolyl)indene 3b, and 1-(p-anisyl)-2-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-phenylindene 3c in 82%, 80%, and 80% yields, respectively.     

Reversible pyranyl complex formation and the mechanism of rearrangement to (η-6-oxocycloheptadienyl)Mn(CO)3 complexes in the reaction of β-cyclomanganated 1,5-diarylpenta-1,4-dien-3-ones and alkynes; the crystal structure of [2,4-diphenyl-6-(2-phenylethenyl)pyranyl-η]tricarbonylmanganese

[1-Phenyl-2-[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-oyl-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese (1a) reacts with PhCCH in CCl₄ at room temperature to form [2,4-diphenyl-6-(2-phenylethenyl)pyranyl-η⁵]tricarbonylmanganese (2a), whose X-ray crystal structure is reported to complement that of its isomer [6-oxo-2,4,7-triphenylcyclohepta-1,4-dienyl-1,2,3,4,5-η]tricarbonylmanganese (3a), previously obtained from the reaction under reflux; but for 1a and PhCCPh the pyranyl complex cannot be isolated before rearrangement to the 3a analogue occurs. More forcing reaction conditions for 1a with Me₃SiCCH and for [1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-[(E)-3-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-oyl-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese (1b) with Me₃SiCCH and PhCCH give new analogues of 3a where previously only 2a analogues had been isolated.The reaction in CCl₄ under reflux of PhCCH and the β-deuterio analogue of 1a, [1-phenyl-2-[(E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-oyl-3d-κO]ethenyl-κC¹]tetracarbonylmanganese, gave deuteriated 3a with exo-D at the α-carbon, C7. This is inconsistent with the Mn-mediated Ph migration mechanism originally proposed to accommodate the endo position of Ph in 3a, and instead it implicates a cyclopropyl carbonyl-addition intermediate or a cyclopropyl acyl-substitution transition state in the key rearrangement step for 2a → 3a.     

Hexabromide salt of a tiny octaazacryptand as a receptor for encapsulation of lower homolog halides: structural evidence on halide selectivity inside the tiny cage

Tiny azacryptand 1,4,7,10,13,16,21,24-octaazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (L) upon reaction with 48% hydrobromic acid (containing <0.05% chloride contamination) forms hexabromide salt (1). Single crystal X-ray crystallographic investigation of the hexaprotonated bromide (1) shows no guest encapsulation inside the tiny cage. This bromide salt 1 with an empty proton cage has been utilized as the receptor for encapsulation of chloride (2) and fluoride (3). Crystallographic results of mixed chloride/bromide (2) and fluoride/bromide (3) complexes of L are examined, which show monotopic recognition of chloride in the case of 2 and fluoride in the case of 3 inside the proton cage with five bromide and three water molecules outside the cavity. Single crystals obtained from an experiment on mixed anionic system (chloride and fluoride), 1 shows selective encapsulation of fluoride, which supports the formation of complex 3 and crystals obtained upon treatment of 2 with tetrabutyl ammonium fluoride also yields complex 3. In a separate reaction between L and 49% hydrobromic acid containing higher chloride contamination (<0.2%) forms chloride/bromide salt (2). ¹H NMR studies of 1 with sodium chloride and fluoride support the encapsulation of the respective anions inside the proton cage.     

Synthesis and thermal behavior of cis- and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene

The cothermolysis of benzoyl(tert-butyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)silane with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene in a sealed tube at 140 °C for 24 h afforded cis- and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (2 and 3) in a ratio of approximately 1:1 in 66% combined yield. When cis-silacyclohex-4-ene 2 was heated in a sealed tube at 250 °C for 24 h, dyotropic ring contraction took place to give 1-[(tert-butyl)(trimethylsiloxy)(trimethylsilyl)silyl]-3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylcyclopent-3-ene (4), but not trans-2-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (6). The thermolysis of trans-silacyclohex-4-ene 3 under the same conditions, however, afforded two products, 1-silyl-1-phenylcyclopent-3-ene 4 and trans-1-tert-butyl-4,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-(trimethylsiloxy)-2-(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacyclohex-4-ene (5). The theoretical calculations were carried out to characterize the transition states and other local minima, and to evaluate the activation energies for the dyotropic rearrangement of 2 to 4 and 6, and 3 to 4 and 5. The energy barriers between 2 and 4, between 3 and 4, and between 3 and 5 were evaluated to be 188, 191, 192 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The energy barrier between 2 and 6, however, was calculated to be 201 kJ mol⁻¹ or higher. These results are consistent with the experimental finding that the thermal isomerization of 2 affords only 4, but 3 produces both 4 and 5.     

An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a-q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a-h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a-d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a-e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a-h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a-d) using HSnBu₃.     

Increasing the antibacterial activity of gallium(III) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa upon coordination to pyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones

Reaction of N(4)-phenyl-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Fo4Ph), N(4)-phenyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4Ph) and N(4)-phenyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4Ph) with gallium nitrate gave [Ga(H2Fo4Ph)₂](NO₃)₃ (1), [Ga(2Ac4Ph)₂]NO₃ (2) and [Ga(2Bz4Ph)₂]NO₃ (3). In all complexes coordination of the thiosemicarbazone via the N_py–N–S chelating system occurs. In 1 the thiosemicarbazone acts as a neutral ligand while in 2 and 3 the ligand is anionic. Upon slow diffusion of 2 in DMSO [Ga(2Ac4Ph)₂]NO₃·DMSO (2a) was formed. The crystal structure of 2a was determined. Upon coordination the antibacterial activity of both gallium and thiosemicarbazones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increases.     

Formal total synthesis of aspergillide A

The formal total synthesis of aspergillide A 1 is described. The cross-metathesis of enone 6 with 6-hepten-2-ol derivative 5 provided E-olefin 15 corresponding to the C₄-C₁₄ backbone of 1. The CBS asymmetric reduction of 15 gave allyl alcohol 16, which was transformed into β-alkoxyacrylate 4 which had a formyl group. SmI₂-induced reductive cyclization of 4 gave a 2,6-syn-2,3-trans THP derivative 3 in good yield. After methoxymethylation of 3, the resulting compound 19 was submitted to desilylation and hydrolysis, to afford Fuwa’s key intermediate 2 for the total synthesis of 1.     

A facile synthesis and herbicidal activities of novel fluorine-containing thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones

Eighteen novel 5-alkylamino-6-aryl-3-phenyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-ones 5a-r were designed and easily synthesized via a tandem aza-Wittig reaction. Treatment of iminophosphorane 2 with aromatic isocyanate gave carbodiimide 3, which reacted with fluoro-substituted alkylamines to provide the title compounds in 65-87% isolated yields using sodium ethoxide as catalyst. All compounds 5 were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, MS and elemental analysis, and compound 5p was further analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The preliminary bioassay indicated that some compounds showed significant inhibition activities against the root growth of rape and barnyard grass at a dosage of 100 mg/L.     

Syntheses and regiochemistry of enol addition to 9-phenyl-9H-xanthen-9-ol

Regioselective C-C bond formation of 9-phenyl-9H-xanthen-9-ol 1 with various enolizable ketones I-X in an acidic (HBr) medium, obtained by the reaction of 1,1′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)dipyridinium bistribromide (EDPBT) with ketone is observed. Except for ketone, 4-methyl-pentan-2-one VII in all other cases examined the attack to xanthenyl carbocation is from the thermodynamically stable enolizable side of the unsymmetrical ketones. In the case of 3-methyl-butan-2-one VIII the equilibrium is in favor of the more stable enolizable ketone, which has large steric factor, hence no reaction was observed during its addition to alcohol 1.     

Catalytic electronic activation as a tool for the addition of stabilised nucleophiles to allylic alcohols

This paper describes the activation of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) through the use of aluminium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation. The electronically activated substrates are demonstrated to undergo facile conjugate addition and, when the alcohol functional group is subsequently restored in a one-pot procedure, this leads to an indirect addition of nucleophiles to allylic alcohols. This novel methodology has been termed catalytic electronic activation.The aluminium tert-butoxide catalysed conversion of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (18) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclopentyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (16) in 90 and 60% yield, respectively has been demonstrated through an efficient domino Oppenauer/Michael addition/Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley process.     

Solvent-free reactions of N,N′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole with ferrocenylcarbinols

The efficient and simple routes for the synthesis of various ferrocenyl derivatives from ferrocenylcarbinols and N,N′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (TCDI) are described. It involves grinding the two substrates in a Pyrex tube with a glass rod at room temperature. The reaction of ferrocenylmethanol (1a) provided S,S-bis(ferrocenylmethyl)dithiocarbonate (1b), whose crystal structure and a plausible mechanism for its formation are also reported. The reaction of 1-ferrocenyl-1-phenylmethanol (2a) and 1-ferrocenylbutanol (2b) gave the products 2c and 2d, respectively. The reaction of ω-ferrocenyl alcohols 4-ferrocenylphenol (3a) and 6-ferrocenylhexan-1-ol (3b) yielded the products 3c and 3d, respectively. Reaction of 1,1′-ferrocenedimethanol (3e) afforded 3f in moderate yield, and by contrast, it was not similar to 1b. Reaction of [4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methanol (4a) provided the thiocarbonate 4b in good yield.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and initial electroluminescent properties of bis-cycloiridiated complexes of 2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-methylpyridine

A series of bis-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes (8-10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 29 and 33) bearing two chromophoric N^∧C cyclometalated ligands derived from 2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-methylpyridine (1) and a third nonchromophoric ligand has been synthesized. A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 2-chloro-4-methylpyridine (2) and 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylboronic acid (3) was used to prepare 2-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-methylpyridine (1). Cyclometalation of (1) by IrCl₃ was carried out in (MeO)₃PO, with the formation of chloro-bridged dimer [N^∧C]₂Ir(μ-Cl)₂Ir[C^∧N]₂ (8). Reaction of (8) with lithium 2,4-pentanedionate, lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-heptane-3,5-dionate (13), dipivaloyltrimethylsilylphosphine (14), 2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-3,5-octadione (16), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-pyridin-2-yl-propan-2-ol (18), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl-propan-2-ol (20), 2-diphenylphosphanylethanol (22), and 1-diphenylphosphanylpropan-2-ol (24), afforded octahedral iridium complexes 9, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, respectively. Complex 10, which contains three different ligands (L₁ = N^∧C of 1; L₂ = N^∧C of 4,4′-dimethyl-[2,2′]bipyridinyl 4; L₃ = O^∧O of 2,4-pentanedione), and complex 11, which contains no cyclometalated ligands (L₁ = 4; L₂ = L₃ = Cl; L₄ = O^∧O of 2,4-pentanedione) were also isolated as minor products in a one-pot reaction between a 94:5 mixture of 1 and 4, IrCl₃ and lithium 2,4-pentanedionate. Reaction of 8 with diphenylphosphanylmethanol (27) in 1,2-dichloroethane unexpectedly led to complexes 28 and 29. The reactions of 8 with benzoylformic acid resulted in the formation of hydroxyl-bridged dimer [N^∧C]₂Ir(μ-OH)₂Ir[C^∧N]₂ (33). According to X-ray analyses, Ir-to-Ir distances in the crystal cell increase from 6.86 Å for 10 to 13.31 Å for 33. The angle theta, which represents the twisting of two cyclometalated C-Ir-N planes relative to each other, varies from 97.5° for 21 to 90.76 for complex 28. OLED devices were fabricated from several Ir complexes and preliminary results are discussed.     

1,4,5-Thiadiazepines—II : A novel ring contraction giving 1,4-thiazine derivatives

Cyclization of methyl (phenacylsulphonyl)acetate (3a) and methyl 2-(phenacylsulphonyl)-propionate (3b) with hydrazine gave 6-phenyl-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1,4,5-thiadiazepin-3-one 1,1-dioxide (4a) and its 2-methyl derivative (4b), respectively. The new thiadiazepines, unlike previously described derivatives, did not undergo desulphonylation when heated in various solvents. Brief reflux of 4a in acetic anhydride gave the O-acetyl derivative (6), while prolonged reflux resulted in extrusion of one nitrogen atom from the 7-membered ring. The mechanism of the ring contraction is discussed in terms of a bicyclic diaziridine intermediate (13).