3-Aryl-5-vinyl-2-isoxazolines and 3-Aryl-5-vinylisoxazoles from Aryl Nitrile Oxides and Methyl Vinyl Ketone Lithium Enolate: Reaction Limits and Synthetic Utility Exploitation

Abstract

3-Aryl-5-hydroxy-5-vinyl-2-isoxazolines were synthesized by reacting aryl nitrile oxides with the lithium enolate of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) at –78 °C. Fair to good yields are obtained in the case of aryl nitrile oxides bearing electron-withdrawing groups on the aryl moiety or less bulky groups. Conversely, lower yields or no reaction was observed in the presence of hindered aryl nitrile oxides. Such a behavior was confirmed by ab initio calculations of the activation energies for three reactions. A number of 3-aryl-5-vinylisoxazoles were quantitatively obtained by dehydration/aromatization of the corresponding 5-hydroxy-2-isoxazolines under acidic conditions. The side-chain elaboration is reported as a synthetic utility of some vinylisoxazoles and vinylisoxazo­lines.