Oxidative synthesis of azacyclic derivatives through the nitrenium ion: application of a hypervalent iodine species electrochemically generated from iodobenzene

Oxidation of the methoxyamide derivatives 1, 4, and 7 has been examined to elaborate efficient synthetic methodology of the azacyclic derivatives 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8, which would be applicable as synthetic intermediates of complicated bioactive substances. In addition to direct anodic and PIFA [phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate)] oxidations, an active species derived from iodobenzene generated under electrolytic conditions was examined as an oxidant, and its synthetic efficacy was demonstrated in comparison of the reaction outcomes with other oxidation methods. In the oxidation, the methoxy substitution of substrates modulated the cyclization mode to provide the azaspiro- (2, 8) or quinolinone-type (3, 5, 6) products.