Synthesis and reactions of halo-, nitro-, and arylazo-substituted 3-aminotropolones. Formation of 8H-cyclohept[d]oxazol-8-one derivatives

3-Acetamidotropolone ( 1a ) reacted with bromine and fuming nitric acid to afford respectively 3-acetamido-7-bromo- ( 1b ) and -5,7-dibromotropolone ( 1c ) and 3-acetamido-5-nitrotropolone ( 1d ). Azo-coupling reaction of 1a gave 3-acetamido-5-(4-methylphenylazo)tropolone ( 1f ). Bromination of 1d and 1f gave 7-bromo-substituted compounds 1e and 1g , respectively. The compounds 1b-g were hydrolyzed to afford 3-aminotropolones 4b-g , which reacted with triethyl orthoformate to give the corresponding 8H-cycloheptd]oxazol-8-ones 5b-g . Heating of 3-acetamidotropolones 1a-d with polyphosphoric acid gave 2-methyl-8H-cycloheptd]oxazol-8-ones 6a-d .