A solvent-dependent, highly regioselective [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction of isoxazole-styrenes and azomethine imines under catalyst-free conditions is reported, furnishing a library of pyrazolone–spirooxindole hybrids. Good regioselectivity for the isomeric structures was achieved by the reaction of isoxazole-styrene and azomethine imine in different solvents and temperatures. The developed method was extended for the synthesis of tri-substituted dinitrogen-fused pyrazolones by using a 1,6-Michael addition reaction. Furthermore, the isoxazole moiety was converted into a carboxylic acid as a model study via ring opening.
Key words
spirooxindole-pyrazolone hybrids - bicyclic pyrazolones - isoxazole-styrenes - switchable 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition - solvent-dependent reactivity - catalyst-free conditions