Synthesis,structure and reactions of seco-steroids containing a medium-sized ring—IX : Reactions of Δ1(10)-unsaturated 5-oxo-5,10-seco-steroids with hydroxylamine and n-methylhydroxylamine

When treated with hydroxylamine or N-methylhydroxylamine, in the presence of proton donor catalysts, trans-Δ¹⁽¹⁰⁾-unsaturated 5-oxo-5,10-seco-steroids, such as 3 (but not the corresponding diastereomeric cis-compounds), are converted stereospecifically and in good yield to isoxazolidine derivatives (e.g. 4 and 13), resulting from transannular 1,3-dipolar addition of the intermediately formed oximes and nitrones to the trans-double bond in the cyclodecene ring moiety of the seco-steroid system. Reactions are described and physical evidence is presented which establish the constitution and configuration of the isoxazolidine-containing cycloaddition products, and the mechanistic and steric course of this transannular ring closure process is discussed.