The base-promoted dehydration of rac.-trans-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-4-[(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-thiazepin-5(2H)-one

The base-catalyzed alkylation of rac.-trans-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-thiazepin-5(2H)-one ( 1 ) with dimethylaminoethyl chloride in dimethyl sulfoxide provided predominantly rac.-trans-tetrahydro-6-hydroxy-4-(2-dimethylamino)ethyl]-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-thiazepin-5(2H)-one ( 2 ) and in addition, 2,3-dihydro-4-2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl]-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-thiazepin-5(4H)-one ( 3 ). A plausible mechanism is postulated for the dehydration of the rac.-trans-amide 2 .