Synthesis of peptides containing 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid. Part 3. Cyclization of dipeptides and amides with acetic anhydride

Treatment of protected dipeptides containing 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline-2-carboxylic acid with acetic anhydride affords only 1H,3H,5H-oxazolo[3,4-a]quinolin-3-one derivatives. The formation of a-acylaminomethylketones, arising from the competitive Dakin-West reaction, was generally observed when the cyclization procedure was extended to some amides of the cyclic imino acid. The preferential stabilization of one of two probable mesoionic intermediates seems to determine the preferred pathway.