Studies on isocyanides and related compounds. Investigation on the reaction between (Z)-alkyl 3-dimethylamino-2-isocyanoacrylates and acyl chlorides

The reaction between (Z)-methyl 3-dimethylamino-2-isocyanoacrylate ( 1a ) and acyl chlorides 2a,b did not afford methyl 2-acyl-1-methyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylates 3a,b , as previously reported, but 2-acyl-4-dimeth-ylaminomethyleneoxazol-5(4H)-ones 4a,b.