Novel intramolecular reactivity of oximes: synthesis of cyclic and spiro-fused imines

Under conventional heat (135-145 degrees C) or microwave irradiation and 1 equiv of acetic anhydride, ortho-substituted aryl-oximes undergo a novel sp3 C-H activated cyclization to produce the corresponding isoindoles, and aliphatic oximes afford the corresponding dihydropyrroles. The cyclization occurs with various substrates in good yield (46-82%) leading to unique spiro-fused and cyclic imines. An initial mechanistic investigation suggests the reaction occurs via a nitrenium or vinyl nitrene intermediate. [reaction: see text]