1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones 1–6 with nitriles 14–16, proceeded under thermal as well as under high pressure conditions with complete regioselectivity to give Δ 4-1,2,4-oxadiazolines 17–19. In general, the cycloaddition seemed to be controlled by a HOMO(nitrone)- LUMO(nitrile) interaction. However, a crossover in the orbital control is probable observed with nitrile 16c. Nitrone-nitrile cycloadditions are normal type II cycloadditions so that the nitriles have a U-shaped reactivity curve. Kinetic study on solvent polarity and Hammett equation demonstrated that mechanistically the nitrone-nitrile cycloaddition is consistent with nitrone-alkene cycloaddition.
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