Thermally induced opening of the diaziridine ring in 6-aryl-2-methyl-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes

Thermally induced opening of the diaziridine ring in 6-aryl-2-methyl-1,5-diazabicyclo3.1.0]-hexanes at the carbon-nitrogen bond is characterized by low regioselectivity; isomerization of unstable intermediate azomethine imines leads to mixtures of the corresponding 1-arylmethyl-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles and 1-arylmethyl-3-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles at a ratio of ～6:5. Analogous regioselectivity in opening of the three-membered ring is observed in the presence of phenyl isocyanate. In this case, adducts with cis arrangement of the aryl and methyl groups are formed as the major products (cis/trans ratio ～3:1).