Generation and fate of free radicals of Δ2-oxazolin-5-ones

The reaction of Δ² -oxazolin-5-ones 1a and 1b with nickel peroxide in benzene produces the corresponding 4,4-dehydrodimers 5a and 5b as the main products in yields over 75%. Under the same conditions, the 2-aryl -4-methyl - Δ²-oxazolin-5-ones 1c, 1d and 1e yield five products. In the case of 1c, the constituents of the product mixture were separated and identified as two 4,4-dehydrodimers ( meso and d] pair isomers) 5c and 5c', (40.7%), 2,4-dehydrodimer 6c (34.9%), acetylanisoylimide 8c (8.5%) and anisamide (15.9%). Adequate mechanistic schemes are discussed to account for the products formed.