Abstract: | Irradiation of 2-azido-3-phenyl-propene ( 5 ) in pentane or benzene solution with a high pressure lamp (pyrex filter) yields 3-benzyl-2H-azirin ( 6 ), which on further irradiation behind quartz or vycor in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid methylester or carbon dioxide yields 4-benzyl-5-methoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-3-oxazolin ( 8 ) and 4-benzyl-3-oxazolin-5-one ( 9 ), respectively (scheme 2). A small amount of 3-phenylacetonitrile is also formed. |